The 1950s were a time of many changes; the music reflected this. Some of the popular genres were Country, Rock n Roll, Rhythm and Blues, and Traditional Pop.
Country
Known for its ballads and dance tunes, with simple form, folk lyrics, and harmonies in hand with instruments such as banjos, fiddles, harmonicas, and many types of guitar. The term Country was originated by Hillblly music. Some popular artists consist of celebrities such as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee, and more!
Rock n roll
Was a fusion of R+B, and Country. Starting in the early 1950s, this genre created a chain of events that resulted in the creation of many alternative subgenres such as: rock, metal, punk, indie, grunge and more. The OG's of Rock n Roll consist of the king himself, Elvis Presley, The Flamingos, Ray Charles, Four Tops, and Billy Ward, to name a few.
Rhythm and Blues
Transpired from the jazz and blues of the 1940’s, this genre helped inspire genres such as soul, Motown and funk. R+B brought the New Orleans scene to the mainstream and inspired a new wave of jazz and blues fans. Some popular artists consist of celebrities such as Ben E. King, Dianna Ross, Fats Domino, The Ravens and Ohio Players.
Traditional Pop
The genre that we all know and love. This inspired modern pop along with some genres like indie pop, rap and fast genres like that. One artist that I'm particularly fond of would be The Inkspots. They were active from the mid 30s to the late 50s. Their music inspired others such as R+B, Rock n Roll and doo-wop. Both the black and white communities enjoyed this artist, most likely because of the ballad style introduced by the leader singer, Bill Kenny. Some other examples of artists from this time period would be, The Coasters, Bill Haley and his comets, Tony Bennet and Little Richard.
Johnny cash
Elvis Presley
Diana Ross
The Inkspots
How 50s music impacted American society
Before the 40s, music was niche. It was used during the Great Depression as a source of entertainment to help civilians cope. Post WWII, music grew an astronomical amount. People of Color were getting the recognition they deserved and this helped pave the way for a more accepting society. Music impacted family lives, teenage rebellion, and more. Music went from being a niche hobby to something engrained in our society forever.
