this decade was defined by blues country pop R&B and rock and roll welcome to
pop R&B and rock and roll welcome to
pop R&B and rock and roll welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 musical
down our picks for the top 10 musical
down our picks for the top 10 musical acts of the 1950s for our series on the
acts of the 1950s for our series on the
acts of the 1950s for our series on the top 10 musical acts per decade we’ve
top 10 musical acts per decade we’ve
top 10 musical acts per decade we’ve based our choices on a mix of an acts
based our choices on a mix of an acts
based our choices on a mix of an acts success popularity and overall musical
success popularity and overall musical
success popularity and overall musical legacy this is part of a series of
legacy this is part of a series of
legacy this is part of a series of videos spanning the decades of music
videos spanning the decades of music
videos spanning the decades of music from the 1950s to the 2000s
some exotic foods as a bar number 10
some exotic foods as a bar number 10 Frank Sinatra come on lie with me we’ll
Frank Sinatra come on lie with me we’ll
Frank Sinatra come on lie with me we’ll fly will buy away after his solo career
fly will buy away after his solo career
fly will buy away after his solo career began to decline at the end of the 40’s
began to decline at the end of the 40’s
began to decline at the end of the 40’s old blue eyes experienced a rebirth
old blue eyes experienced a rebirth
old blue eyes experienced a rebirth during the next decade if you’re a young
thanks to an oscar-winning performance
thanks to an oscar-winning performance in From Here to Eternity the New Jersey
in From Here to Eternity the New Jersey
in From Here to Eternity the New Jersey born musician’s regained the success he
born musician’s regained the success he
born musician’s regained the success he had lost during the previous years you
had lost during the previous years you
had lost during the previous years you can live your dreams fall apart at the
can live your dreams fall apart at the
can live your dreams fall apart at the scene meanwhile tracks like young at
scene meanwhile tracks like young at
scene meanwhile tracks like young at heart come fly with me and angel eyes
heart come fly with me and angel eyes
heart come fly with me and angel eyes helped him refine his big band
helped him refine his big band
helped him refine his big band jazzy style and ensured he was once
jazzy style and ensured he was once
jazzy style and ensured he was once again a big hit with the ladies his
again a big hit with the ladies his
again a big hit with the ladies his sound and resurgence in popularity also
sound and resurgence in popularity also
sound and resurgence in popularity also contributed to his becoming one of the
contributed to his becoming one of the
contributed to his becoming one of the best-selling artists ever
lucky people you check on nerves and you
lucky people you check on nerves and you rattle my brain number nine
rattle my brain number nine
rattle my brain number nine Jerry Lee Lewis you ruble will but what
Jerry Lee Lewis you ruble will but what
Jerry Lee Lewis you ruble will but what a three oh goodness and grace is great
a three oh goodness and grace is great
a three oh goodness and grace is great the killer officially began recording at
the killer officially began recording at
the killer officially began recording at Sun Records in the mid-50s it didn’t
Sun Records in the mid-50s it didn’t
Sun Records in the mid-50s it didn’t take long for him to become an
take long for him to become an
take long for him to become an international superstar
in 1957 his cover of whole lotta shakin
in 1957 his cover of whole lotta shakin goin on propelled him onto the world
goin on propelled him onto the world
goin on propelled him onto the world stage and into the top three of the
stage and into the top three of the
stage and into the top three of the Billboard Pop chart as an early pioneer
Billboard Pop chart as an early pioneer
Billboard Pop chart as an early pioneer of the evolving sound of rock and roll
of the evolving sound of rock and roll
of the evolving sound of rock and roll Jerry Lee Lewis soon became known for
Jerry Lee Lewis soon became known for
Jerry Lee Lewis soon became known for mixing country
mixing country
mixing country rockabilly blues and gospel oh we got
rockabilly blues and gospel oh we got
rockabilly blues and gospel oh we got chicken and the bottom the bottom up on
chicken and the bottom the bottom up on
chicken and the bottom the bottom up on my phone honey we got a fool
my phone honey we got a fool
my phone honey we got a fool by further developing his style and
by further developing his style and
by further developing his style and tunes like great balls of fire Louis
tunes like great balls of fire Louis
tunes like great balls of fire Louis would go on to shape popular music
would go on to shape popular music
would go on to shape popular music forever let’s not forget he wasn’t too
forever let’s not forget he wasn’t too
forever let’s not forget he wasn’t too shabby on the piano either Oh gracious
shabby on the piano either Oh gracious
shabby on the piano either Oh gracious great balls of fire number eight Miles
great balls of fire number eight Miles
great balls of fire number eight Miles Davis you’ve probably heard his seminal
Davis you’ve probably heard his seminal
Davis you’ve probably heard his seminal 1959 album kind of blue and you don’t
1959 album kind of blue and you don’t
1959 album kind of blue and you don’t even know it but it’s one of the most
even know it but it’s one of the most
even know it but it’s one of the most influential records of all time
influential records of all time
influential records of all time thanks to Miles Davis’s unparalleled
thanks to Miles Davis’s unparalleled
thanks to Miles Davis’s unparalleled musicianship
not only did he alter the way jazz can
not only did he alter the way jazz can be played but this Illinois born trumpet
be played but this Illinois born trumpet
be played but this Illinois born trumpet player also brought improvisation to the
player also brought improvisation to the
player also brought improvisation to the forefront dabbling in bebop modal jazz
forefront dabbling in bebop modal jazz
forefront dabbling in bebop modal jazz and jazz fusion the bandleader composer
and jazz fusion the bandleader composer
and jazz fusion the bandleader composer and multi-instrumentalist reshaped the
and multi-instrumentalist reshaped the
and multi-instrumentalist reshaped the way we can and should hear music and
continue to do so years later most
continue to do so years later most notably with his groundbreaking album
notably with his groundbreaking album
notably with his groundbreaking album bitches brew
number seven Johnny Cash I keep a close
number seven Johnny Cash I keep a close watch on I keep my eyes will
watch on I keep my eyes will
watch on I keep my eyes will I’d open all the kind while he’s more
I’d open all the kind while he’s more
I’d open all the kind while he’s more famous for his output in country
famous for his output in country
famous for his output in country this rebellious musician wouldn’t be as
this rebellious musician wouldn’t be as
this rebellious musician wouldn’t be as legendary as he is today without his
legendary as he is today without his
legendary as he is today without his ability to make music that spanned many
ability to make music that spanned many
ability to make music that spanned many genres and many decades I was down
genres and many decades I was down
genres and many decades I was down slaves would hire with his deep voice
slaves would hire with his deep voice
slaves would hire with his deep voice signature rockabilly sound and relatable
signature rockabilly sound and relatable
signature rockabilly sound and relatable persona the man in black truly became a
persona the man in black truly became a
persona the man in black truly became a force to be reckoned with
force to be reckoned with
force to be reckoned with especially in the 1950s but I shot a man
especially in the 1950s but I shot a man
especially in the 1950s but I shot a man in Reno just to watch him
darkly themed hits like I walk the line
darkly themed hits like I walk the line Folsom Prison Blues and ring a fire
the only non solo act on our list this
the only non solo act on our list this duo consisting of dawn and Phil Everly
duo consisting of dawn and Phil Everly
duo consisting of dawn and Phil Everly was a constant presence on the 1950s pop
was a constant presence on the 1950s pop
was a constant presence on the 1950s pop charts while their brotherly bond may
charts while their brotherly bond may
charts while their brotherly bond may have contributed to the uniqueness of
have contributed to the uniqueness of
have contributed to the uniqueness of their closed harmony singing style the
their closed harmony singing style the
their closed harmony singing style the Everly Brothers also cemented their
Everly Brothers also cemented their
Everly Brothers also cemented their place in music history with their simple
place in music history with their simple
place in music history with their simple but catchy melodies and steel string
but catchy melodies and steel string
but catchy melodies and steel string guitar driven sound thanks to such
guitar driven sound thanks to such
guitar driven sound thanks to such pristine pop beauties as wake up little
pristine pop beauties as wake up little
pristine pop beauties as wake up little Susie and bye-bye love they also went on
Susie and bye-bye love they also went on
Susie and bye-bye love they also went on to influence multiple artists even the
to influence multiple artists even the
to influence multiple artists even the Beatles
by courageously and creatively mixing
by courageously and creatively mixing genres into a hybrid sound he became one
genres into a hybrid sound he became one
genres into a hybrid sound he became one of the most important artists to lay the
of the most important artists to lay the
of the most important artists to lay the foundation for rock and roll in the late
foundation for rock and roll in the late
foundation for rock and roll in the late 40s and the 50s further made his mark
40s and the 50s further made his mark
40s and the 50s further made his mark with his electric and eccentric
with his electric and eccentric
with his electric and eccentric showmanship but it was time capsule
showmanship but it was time capsule
showmanship but it was time capsule worthy songs like long tall Sally
worthy songs like long tall Sally
worthy songs like long tall Sally tutti-frutti and Lucille that really
tutti-frutti and Lucille that really
tutti-frutti and Lucille that really solidified his spot in music history
not to mention they helped him become
not to mention they helped him become one of the first black artists to really
one of the first black artists to really
one of the first black artists to really gain crossover attention and success
number four Buddy Holly music lost a
number four Buddy Holly music lost a rock-and-roll giant when Buddy Holly
rock-and-roll giant when Buddy Holly
rock-and-roll giant when Buddy Holly died in a tragic plane crash in 1959
died in a tragic plane crash in 1959
died in a tragic plane crash in 1959 lady baby you will love me some day
lady baby you will love me some day
lady baby you will love me some day don’t he was only active in the music
don’t he was only active in the music
don’t he was only active in the music industry for less than a decade his
industry for less than a decade his
industry for less than a decade his influence and the body of work he left
influence and the body of work he left
influence and the body of work he left behind continues to touch us over five
behind continues to touch us over five
behind continues to touch us over five decades later
decades later
decades later hey baby soon Britney Britney Britney
hey baby soon Britney Britney Britney
hey baby soon Britney Britney Britney Britney Peggy Sue
Britney Peggy Sue
Britney Peggy Sue Oh Peggy my exit
Oh Peggy my exit
Oh Peggy my exit along with the crickets Holly lay down
along with the crickets Holly lay down
along with the crickets Holly lay down the standard for a rock and roll band –
the standard for a rock and roll band –
the standard for a rock and roll band – guitars bass and drums that’ll be the
guitars bass and drums that’ll be the
guitars bass and drums that’ll be the day meanwhile it’s like that’ll be the
day meanwhile it’s like that’ll be the
day meanwhile it’s like that’ll be the day
day
day Peggy Sue oh boy rave on and maybe baby
Peggy Sue oh boy rave on and maybe baby
Peggy Sue oh boy rave on and maybe baby speak for themselves I love my kitchen
speak for themselves I love my kitchen
speak for themselves I love my kitchen you don’t know what you’ve been missing
you don’t know what you’ve been missing
you don’t know what you’ve been missing oh boy oh boy when you’re with me home
oh boy oh boy when you’re with me home
oh boy oh boy when you’re with me home all the horribly ready
all the horribly ready
all the horribly ready only
only
only Oh
this soul music pioneer is also a
this soul music pioneer is also a singer-songwriter piano player composer
singer-songwriter piano player composer
singer-songwriter piano player composer and arranger always for a native of
and arranger always for a native of
and arranger always for a native of Albany Georgia
Albany Georgia
Albany Georgia Ray Charles tackled countless genres
Ray Charles tackled countless genres
Ray Charles tackled countless genres throughout his career notably blues R&B
throughout his career notably blues R&B
throughout his career notably blues R&B jazz and gospel tell you mama
thanks to his many talents he also paved
thanks to his many talents he also paved the way for black artists to cross over
the way for black artists to cross over
the way for black artists to cross over into country and pop
did we mention he did this all without
did we mention he did this all without being able to see that’s right despite
being able to see that’s right despite
being able to see that’s right despite being blind since he was seven Charles
being blind since he was seven Charles
being blind since he was seven Charles continues to be lauded as one of the
continues to be lauded as one of the
continues to be lauded as one of the greatest singers and artists ever well
greatest singers and artists ever well
greatest singers and artists ever well what did I say has been hailed as one of
what did I say has been hailed as one of
what did I say has been hailed as one of the greatest songs of all time
number two Chuck Berry even John Lennon
number two Chuck Berry even John Lennon said if you tried to give rock-and-roll
said if you tried to give rock-and-roll
said if you tried to give rock-and-roll another name you might call it Chuck
another name you might call it Chuck
another name you might call it Chuck Berry but if that’s not enough to
Berry but if that’s not enough to
Berry but if that’s not enough to convince you that this st. Louis born
convince you that this st. Louis born
convince you that this st. Louis born legend deserves to be on here then maybe
legend deserves to be on here then maybe
legend deserves to be on here then maybe his onstage presence and incredible
his onstage presence and incredible
his onstage presence and incredible guitar skills will not only did Chuck
guitar skills will not only did Chuck
guitar skills will not only did Chuck Berry set the blueprint for the attitude
Berry set the blueprint for the attitude
Berry set the blueprint for the attitude associated with how a rock and roller
associated with how a rock and roller
associated with how a rock and roller should act he also sold millions of
should act he also sold millions of
should act he also sold millions of records and topped Billboard’s R&B
records and topped Billboard’s R&B
records and topped Billboard’s R&B charts
McCrory
McCrory smashes like Maybelline Johnny be good
smashes like Maybelline Johnny be good
smashes like Maybelline Johnny be good and sweet little 16 further prove our
and sweet little 16 further prove our
and sweet little 16 further prove our case
before we unveil our pick for top
before we unveil our pick for top musical act of the 1950’s here are a few
musical act of the 1950’s here are a few
musical act of the 1950’s here are a few honorable mentions Mario
I got a brand new chimney made on top
I got a brand new chimney made on top made out for human school now come on
made out for human school now come on
made out for human school now come on take a look walk with me Arlene and tell
take a look walk with me Arlene and tell
take a look walk with me Arlene and tell me who do you love
me who do you love
me who do you love who do you love darling you
Oh knock me down step in my face so into
Oh knock me down step in my face so into my name all over the plate number one
my name all over the plate number one
my name all over the plate number one Elvis Presley wanna do step on my blue
Elvis Presley wanna do step on my blue
Elvis Presley wanna do step on my blue suede shoes no list of the 1950s would
suede shoes no list of the 1950s would
suede shoes no list of the 1950s would be complete without the king and with a
be complete without the king and with a
be complete without the king and with a nickname like that how could he not top
nickname like that how could he not top
nickname like that how could he not top our list bringing what was then known as
our list bringing what was then known as
our list bringing what was then known as black music to the forefront of white
black music to the forefront of white
black music to the forefront of white America Elvis Presley set the stage for
America Elvis Presley set the stage for
America Elvis Presley set the stage for a musical revolution like no other and
a musical revolution like no other and
a musical revolution like no other and consequently changed the face of
consequently changed the face of
consequently changed the face of American popular culture baby
while hits like Heartbreak Hotel hound
while hits like Heartbreak Hotel hound dog and don’t be cruel helped black
dog and don’t be cruel helped black
dog and don’t be cruel helped black artists like Little Richard break into
artists like Little Richard break into
artists like Little Richard break into the mainstream
the mainstream
the mainstream Presley’s dance moves and commercial
Presley’s dance moves and commercial
Presley’s dance moves and commercial success in multiple genres made him one
success in multiple genres made him one
success in multiple genres made him one of the 20th century’s best do you agree
of the 20th century’s best do you agree
of the 20th century’s best do you agree with our list who’s your favorite
with our list who’s your favorite
with our list who’s your favorite musical act of the 1950’s
for more musical top 10s published every
for more musical top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to
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watchmojo.com all the shock has privity dear and he shows them up early wide
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