1950s Rock and Roll History

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the history, artists, and milestones of 1950s Rock and Roll music.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Gospel singer and electric guitar player known as the 'Godmother of Rock’n’Roll' who gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s.

Les Paul

Musician and inventor credited with inventing the solid body electric guitar in the 1940s and recording hits such as 'How High the Moon' with Mary Ford.

The Log

The solid body electric guitar prototype invented by Les Paul in the 1940s.

Rumble

A 1958 instrumental by Link Wray and the Wraymen, recognized as one of the first recordings to explore distortion and tremolo sounds.

Howlin' Wolf

Stage name of Chester Burnett, an electric guitar Chicago blues progenitor who released 'Moanin at Midnight' (1951) on Chess Records.

Rocket 88

1950 track by Ike Turner/Jackie Brenston and his Delta Kings, often cited as the first rock'n'roll record.

Big Momma Thornton

Blues singer and songwriter (1926-1984) whose biggest recorded hit was 'Hound Dog', composed by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller.

Rockabilly

An early popular style mixing bluegrass, blues, and rock'n'roll featuring solid body electric guitar, acoustic bass, simple drum kit, and often close harmony vocals.

Earth Angel

1954 song by The Penguins, later featured in the Back to the Future dance sequence.

Ritchie Valens

American-born pioneer of Spanish-speaking rock'n'roll who reached the top 40 in US charts with 'La Bamba'.

Billboard Hot 100

Music chart first published in August 1958, integrating sales across the most popular music categories.

Duane Eddy

Guitarist known for his 'twangy' guitar sound and electric bass, who recorded 'Rebel Rouser' and 'Peter Gunn' in 1958.

The day the music died

February 3, 1959, when a plane crash 6 miles north of the airport in Clear Lake, IA killed Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper.