Download Overview Part 2

1944
Versatile composer, conductor, pianist,
Leonard Bernstein composes musical
On the Town, followed by string of others,
including West Side Story.
1947
Singer Mahalia Jackson inaugurates "golden age
of gospel music" through 1965.
1948
Columbia Records introduces
"long playing" vinyl record
1951
Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed uses
term "rock 'n' roll" to promote
rhythm and blues to white audiences
1954
Bill Haley and the Comets become first major white
band to use black rock 'n' roll forms, featuring heavy,
danceable beat and repetitive patterns,
"Rock Around the Clock" becomes huge hit.
1958
Country Music Association is
established in Nashville
Billboard magazine begins Hot 100
chart listing popular songs. Ricky
Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" is the
first No. 1 record.
1959
National Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences presents first Grammy Award for music
recorded in previous year.
Berry Gordy Jr. founds Motown record company
to mass-market black music.
Stars include the Supremes,
Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye
1961
Country singer Patsy Cline becomes
mainstream popular (pop) music hit
1963
Folk singer Bob Dylan popularizes protest
songs
Peter, Paul and Mary sing Dylan's "Blowin' in
the Wind" at the 1963 March on Washington
1964
The Beatles' song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a
sensation, igniting the immense popularity of
British groups, known as the "British invasion";
Other popular British groups are the Rolling
Stones, the Who, and Herman's Hermits