Rock Music in the Sixties:
In the sixties rock music comes of age and dominates the popular music charts. Elvis Presley continues to score hits in the early part of the decade, but the music continues to diversify with the folk revival, the Brill Building sound, Phil Spector's wall of sound, girl groups and surf music, all impacting the early part of the decade. The Motown, Stax and Atlantic labels bring more african-american artists back to the forefront of the pop charts. By 1964 American artists are sharing the top of the charts with U.K. bands led by the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In the U.S. garage bands emerge, inspired by the British Invasion sound.
Sixties songwriting moves beyond pop love songs and begins to include social consciousness and political statements. In the latter half of the decade psychedelic music reflects the growing hippie culture. Bubblegum music is created to generate radio friendly pop singles. Album sales begin to gain importance, as a harder rock sound emerges and sows the seeds for heavy metal.
In the sixties, television becomes a major force in rock music as networks try to attract a younger audience. American Bandstand continues with it's afternoon, clean-cut, teen idol format, while the Ed Sullivan Show and other TV variety shows begin showcasing rock bands in prime time. The networks also add the weekly prime time shows Shindig and Hullabaloo featuring dancers and new music for teenage fans.
In the late sixties outdoor rock music festivals begin. First with 1967's Monterey Pop Festival which attracts 55,000 fans per day to a three day concert. In the summer of 1969 the Woodstock Music and Art Fair draws 500,000 people to a three day concert in Bethel, New York.
The Beatles dominate the sixties record charts with 6 of the top 10 albums of the decade and 21 of the decades' top 100 singles. Their nearest competitor is Elvis Presley with 9 of the decades' top 100 singles and 4 of the decades' top 100 albums.
Sixties Genres / Key Artists:
Folk Revival: Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter Paul & Mary, Phil Ochs, The Kingston Trio, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Gordon Lightfoot, Arlo Guthrie, John Denver.
Girl Groups: The Shirelles, The Chiffons, The Shangri-Las, The Ronettes, The Dixie Cups, The Cyrstals, The Exciters, The Supremes.
Brill Building Sound: Ben E. King, Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, The Righteous Brothers, Neil Diamond, Gene Pitney and many of the girl groups above.
Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound: The Ronettes, The Cyrstals, Ike & Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers, and later The Beatles and The Ramones.
Surf Music: Dick Dale, The Ventures, The Trashmen, The Chantays, The Surfaris, The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, The Rivieras.
Motown: The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Jackson Five, Rare Earth, The Temptations, The Spinners, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.
60's Soul - Stax/Atlantic: Otis Redding, Booker T & The MG's, Carla Thomas, The Mar-Keys, Issaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, The Bar-Kays, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Albert King, Johnnie Taylor.
British Invasion: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, The Yardbirds, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Troggs.
Garage Bands: The Standells, The Kingsmen, The Seeds, The Knickerbockers, The Sonics, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Leaves, Shadows of Knight, The Castaways, The Leaves, Count Five, ? & The Mysterians.
Psychedelic Rock: 13th Floor Elevators, Grateful Dead, The Charlatans, Pink Floyd, Love, Spirit, The Electric Prunes, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Traffic, Soft Machine, Eric Burdon, Jefferson Airplane.
Bubblegum Rock: The Archies, 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Ohio Express, Tommy Roe, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Monkees, The Lemon Pipers.
Hard Rock: Iron Butterfly, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Vanilla Fudge, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Blue Cheer, Steppenwolf, MC5, Deep Purple, Blind Faith, Ten Years After, The Doors.
Top 50 Music Artists of the 1960's
Based on Worldwide Sales of Singles and Albums
1: The Beatles
2: Elvis Presley
3: The Rolling Stones
4: Bob Dylan
5: The Beach Boys
6: Frank Sinatra
7: Cliff Richard
8: Ray Charles
9: Herb Alpert
10: Jimi Hendrix
11: The Monkees
12: John Coltrane
13: Jim Reeves
14: The Kinks
15: Roy Orbison
16: Simon & Garfunkel
17: The Doors
18: The Shadows
19: Otis Redding
20: Andy Williams
21: Tom Jones
22: Barbra Streisand
23: The Supremes
24: Cream
25: Led Zeppelin
26: Bee Gees
27: The Who
28: The Byrds
29: Aretha Franklin
30: Johnny Cash
31: The Hollies
32: Henry Mancini
33: Peter, Paul & Mary
34: The Temptations
35: Petula Clark
36: Connie Francis
37: The Animals
38: James Brown
39: Herman's Hermits
40: Chubby Checker
41: Ray Conniff
42: Joan Baez
43: Manfred Mann
44: Donovan
45: The Four Tops
46: The Seekers
47: The Everly Brothers
48: Dave Clark Five
49: Dean Martin
50: The Searchers
