Fats Domino and Leo
Fender and the Music From The 50s
1950s Music
The 1950s was a time of revolution in
the world of music, films and fashion. This was when the
Generation Gap really came into being and the music from the
50s played a huge part.
1950s Top Ten
The charts and the airwaves were
filled with the middle of the road sounds of Guy Mitchell,
Frankie Laine, Johnny Ray, Perry Como and Patti Page. The
latter half of the decade caused parents to shake their
heads in wonder as their teenage children danced to the new
Rock 'n' Roll records.
Bill Haley and the Comets burst onto
the scene with Rock Around the Clock and Shake, Rattle and
Roll and music was never the same again. The music spawned
new fashion trends, hairstyles and dance crazes.
When Elvis Presley swiveled his hips
for the first time on TV, there was an audible gasp from the
older generation. Elvis recorded some classic music from the
50s, such as Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog and Blue Suede
Shoes.
Just How Radical Was Music
From The 50s ?
Buddy Holly was unusual for the time
as he wrote or co wrote many of his own songs.
He wasn't flamboyant like Elvis and he
looked like the boy next door with his trademark spectacles.
His hits included That'll Be The Day, Everyday, Peggy Sue,
Oh, Boy, Brown Eyed Handsome Man and True Love Ways. His
tragic death in 1959 in an air crash at the age of 22 sent
his fans into shock.
Holly was an enduring influence on the
song writing of the groups that followed in the 1960s,
including the Beatles. Don McLean's great hit, American Pie,
pays tribute to Holly.
The music of the 50s laid the
groundwork for all that was to follow. In bedrooms across
the United States and Britain, young people practiced their
chords and tried to memorize lyrics from the hits.
One of the most significant events was
in 1957, when John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the
first time. They shared a passion for Elvis, Little Richard,
Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and other Rock 'n' Roll greats
and the rest is history.
1950s Music Revolution Included Leo
Fender and His Stratocaster
In 1954, one Leo Fender produced the
Fender Stratocaster, guitar of choice for so many guitarists
over the years. Buddy Holly was the first to champion it and
the instrument had an enormous influence on guitar playing
music from the 50s.
Jerry Lee Lewis however, was king of
the Rock 'n' Roll piano. He astonished fans with his
dexterity on the keyboards and had massive hits with Whole
Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and Great Balls of Fire.
Later, Jerry Lee devoted himself to
country music. Johnny Cash's country music gained respect
from musicians across all genres. His 1950s hits include
Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line and Little Drummer
Boy.
Fats Domino was another piano player
and a fine singer. His music from the 50s included classics
such as Ain't That a Shame, Blueberry Hill and I'm Walking.
Chuck Berry got everyone dancing in the aisles with
Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven, Sweet Little 16 and the
immortal Johnny B. Goode. Don't tell me that the 1950s music
was boring .. I don't believe so!
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