Discover 8 Legendary Rock Bands from the 50s that Helped Shape the Genre

Rock and roll from the ‘50s were so iconic and enjoyable that its sound has endured. Even though the scene was just getting started, it produced several influential bands and artists that went on to become staples of the genre. Here are eight renowned groups from the ‘50s that made significant contributions to the development of electric music based on the blues.

 

Little Richard

Little Richard embodied the glitz and edge of rock & roll and was arguably the man who was most accountable for its aesthetic. Several artists – both legends and underrated – name Richard as one of their inspirations for their music and style.

The Platters

The Platters were a pioneering force in the early days of rock & roll. The band was formed in 1952, and their hits include “Only You” and “Earth Angel.”

The Everly Brothers

Founded in 1956 by brothers Don and Phil Everly, the pair is instantly recognizable for its high-intensity performances and distinctive style. Their harmonization as well makes them one of the iconic groups to this day.

The Drifters

This band first came together in 1953, and it went through various lineup changes with famous members like Ben E. King. However, the band’s initial breakthrough was in the 1950s with the release of songs like “Ruby Baby” and “There Goes My Baby.”

The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers band first got together in 1954, but it wasn’t until 1959 that they made it big with the immortal “Shout.” The group’s notoriety is enhanced by the fact that it was one of the earliest American bands to include a young Jimi Hendrix on a six-string guitar, long before Hendrix established his fame in the later years.

Bill Haley & His Comets

This band, which first performed in 1947, combined early rock influences with country music to develop the genre of rockabilly. The band’s most well-known song is “Rock Around the Clock,” which was originally heard as the Happy Days theme but has now become a classic.

The Crickets

Buddy Holly, the lead singer of The Crickets, who was only 22, was killed in the same plane disaster that claimed the lives of other music greats including The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. The Beatles, clearly influenced by The Crickets, went so far as to rebrand themselves as an insect.

Chuck Berry

John Lennon once stated, and he was correct, that we should rename rock ‘n’ roll to “Chuck Berry.” It’s not hard to see why he was able to reinvent rock & roll in the 1950s; he wrote songs that were quintessential of the genre, and he was widely recognized as its godfather.