Key Figures in 1960s British and American Music

Lonnie Donegan

Popularized skiffle in 1960s UK; added a country twang; influential in early British rock.

Peter and Gordon

Merseybeat duo known for "A World Without Love" (1964); Peter Asher and Gordon Waller.

The Hollies

Merseybeat band; known for tight vocal harmonies; song: "Just One Look".

The Zombies

British Invasion band; known for "She's Not There" (1964); early use of electric piano.

Gerry and the Pacemakers

Defined the Merseybeat sound; hit: "Ferry Cross The Mersey" (1964); from Liverpool.

Eric Burdon

Lead singer of The Animals; known for "The House of the Rising Sun" (1964).

The Kinks

British band led by Ray and Dave Davies; hits include "All Day and All of the Night" (1964).

The Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitar), Charlie Watts (drums), Brian Jones (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass); blues-influenced; "Satisfaction" (1965), "Paint It Black" (1966).

The Who

Pete Townshend (guitar), Roger Daltrey (vocals), John Entwistle (bass), Keith Moon (drums); known for "Substitute" (1966), created rock operas.

The Yardbirds

Guitar-centric band with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page; songs include "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" (1966).

Alexis Korner

Host of British blues radio; founded Blues Incorporated; known as the 'father of British blues.'

John Mayall

Leader of The Bluesbreakers; launched careers of Clapton and others; first major British blues band.

Eric Clapton

Guitarist with The Yardbirds, John Mayall, Cream, and Derek and the Dominoes; known for "Sunshine of Your Love" (1967), "Layla".

Cream

Eric Clapton (guitar), Jack Bruce (bass), Ginger Baker (drums); hard rock/blues rock; "White Room", "Sunshine of Your Love".

The Byrds

Folk-rock band led by Roger McGuinn (12-string guitar); known for "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965).

Bob Dylan

Most influential 60s folk-rock artist; acoustic then electric; known for "Blowin' in the Wind" (1963), "Like a Rolling Stone" (1965); first musician to win Nobel Prize in Literature.

Buffalo Springfield

Folk-rock group featuring Stephen Stills and Neil Young; song: "For What It's Worth" (1966).

The Mamas and The Papas

Known for vocal harmonies and hits like "California Dreamin'" (1965); mixed folk and pop.

Phil Ochs

Folk protest singer; known for "I Ain't Marching Anymore" (1965); socially conscious lyrics.

Woody Guthrie

Folk pioneer; influenced 60s folk singers; wrote "This Land is Your Land."

Pete Seeger

Folk revivalist; political songs; influenced Dylan and the folk rock movement.

Timothy Leary

Psychologist at Harvard; major figure in psychedelic movement; promoted LSD for mind expansion.

Jimi Hendrix

Psychedelic blues-rock guitarist; innovated guitar techniques; songs: "Purple Haze", "Voodoo Child"; albums: Are You Experienced (1967).

Jefferson Airplane

Psychedelic rock band; known for "White Rabbit" (1967); part of San Francisco scene.

Jimmy Page

Guitarist in The Yardbirds and founder of Led Zeppelin; produced and played in Led Zeppelin.

Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page, Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass/keys), John Bonham (drums); blues and hard rock blend; influential in heavy rock.