Teen culture emerged as a distinct subculture in the 1950s. New technologies like the transistor radio allowed teens to listen to rock and roll music independently of their parents. Popular artists included Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly. Their music spoke to teen independence and helped define their style and slang. However, rock and roll also faced criticism and backlash from political and religious groups who saw it as corruptive.

4. Technology

9. The Promoters

14. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Maybellene Chuck Berry

16. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Tutti Frutti Little Richard

18. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Pat Boone

20. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Sh-Boom Chords/Crew Cuts

22. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Jerry Lee Lewis Great Balls of Fire

24. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Wake Up Little Susie The Everly Brothers

26. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Rock Around the Clock Bill Haley and the Comets

34. “ the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my displeasure to hear. It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. It smells phony and false. It is sung, played and written for the most part by cretinous goons.” –Frank Sinatra Time magazine likened rock concerts to Hitler’s mass meetings “ a menace to morals” – Music Journal J. Edgar Hoover called it “a corrupting influence”

36. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Hound Dog Elvis Presley

38. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley

40. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles All Shook Up Elvis Presley

41. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles That’ll Be the Day Buddy Holly

43. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles La Bamba Ritchie Valens

45. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Chantilly Lace The Big Bopper

47. Don McLean memorializes this crash— “the day the music died”—in his song “American Pie.”

48. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Tequilla The Champs

50. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles There Goes My Baby The Drifters

52. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Only You The Platters

54. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Blueberry Hill Fats Domino

56. 50’s Playlist Artists and Titles Artists and Titles Ricky Nelson

62. Payola Scandal