this decade was defined by blues country
pop R&B and rock and roll welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 musical
acts of the 1950s for our series on the
top 10 musical acts per decade we’ve
based our choices on a mix of an acts
success popularity and overall musical
legacy this is part of a series of
videos spanning the decades of music
from the 1950s to the 2000s
some exotic foods as a bar number 10
Frank Sinatra come on lie with me we’ll
fly will buy away after his solo career
began to decline at the end of the 40’s
old blue eyes experienced a rebirth
during the next decade if you’re a young
thanks to an oscar-winning performance
in From Here to Eternity the New Jersey
born musician’s regained the success he
had lost during the previous years you
can live your dreams fall apart at the
scene meanwhile tracks like young at
heart come fly with me and angel eyes
helped him refine his big band
jazzy style and ensured he was once
again a big hit with the ladies his
sound and resurgence in popularity also
contributed to his becoming one of the
best-selling artists ever
lucky people you check on nerves and you
rattle my brain number nine
Jerry Lee Lewis you ruble will but what
a three oh goodness and grace is great
the killer officially began recording at
Sun Records in the mid-50s it didn’t
take long for him to become an
international superstar
in 1957 his cover of whole lotta shakin
goin on propelled him onto the world
stage and into the top three of the
Billboard Pop chart as an early pioneer
of the evolving sound of rock and roll
Jerry Lee Lewis soon became known for
mixing country
rockabilly blues and gospel oh we got
chicken and the bottom the bottom up on
my phone honey we got a fool
by further developing his style and
tunes like great balls of fire Louis
would go on to shape popular music
forever let’s not forget he wasn’t too
shabby on the piano either Oh gracious
great balls of fire number eight Miles
Davis you’ve probably heard his seminal
1959 album kind of blue and you don’t
even know it but it’s one of the most
influential records of all time
thanks to Miles Davis’s unparalleled
musicianship
not only did he alter the way jazz can
be played but this Illinois born trumpet
player also brought improvisation to the
forefront dabbling in bebop modal jazz
and jazz fusion the bandleader composer
and multi-instrumentalist reshaped the
way we can and should hear music and
continue to do so years later most
notably with his groundbreaking album
bitches brew
number seven Johnny Cash I keep a close
watch on I keep my eyes will
I’d open all the kind while he’s more
famous for his output in country
this rebellious musician wouldn’t be as
legendary as he is today without his
ability to make music that spanned many
genres and many decades I was down
slaves would hire with his deep voice
signature rockabilly sound and relatable
persona the man in black truly became a
force to be reckoned with
especially in the 1950s but I shot a man
in Reno just to watch him
darkly themed hits like I walk the line
Folsom Prison Blues and ring a fire
King
number six the Everly Brothers changing
the only non solo act on our list this
duo consisting of dawn and Phil Everly
was a constant presence on the 1950s pop
charts while their brotherly bond may
have contributed to the uniqueness of
their closed harmony singing style the
Everly Brothers also cemented their
place in music history with their simple
but catchy melodies and steel string
guitar driven sound thanks to such
pristine pop beauties as wake up little
Susie and bye-bye love they also went on
to influence multiple artists even the
Beatles
number five Little Richard
by courageously and creatively mixing
genres into a hybrid sound he became one
of the most important artists to lay the
foundation for rock and roll in the late
40s and the 50s further made his mark
with his electric and eccentric
showmanship but it was time capsule
worthy songs like long tall Sally
tutti-frutti and Lucille that really
solidified his spot in music history
not to mention they helped him become
one of the first black artists to really
gain crossover attention and success
number four Buddy Holly music lost a
rock-and-roll giant when Buddy Holly
died in a tragic plane crash in 1959
lady baby you will love me some day
don’t he was only active in the music
industry for less than a decade his
influence and the body of work he left
behind continues to touch us over five
decades later
hey baby soon Britney Britney Britney
Britney Peggy Sue
Oh Peggy my exit
along with the crickets Holly lay down
the standard for a rock and roll band –
guitars bass and drums that’ll be the
day meanwhile it’s like that’ll be the
day
Peggy Sue oh boy rave on and maybe baby
speak for themselves I love my kitchen
you don’t know what you’ve been missing
oh boy oh boy when you’re with me home
all the horribly ready
only
Oh
number three Ray Charles
this soul music pioneer is also a
singer-songwriter piano player composer
and arranger always for a native of
Albany Georgia
Ray Charles tackled countless genres
throughout his career notably blues R&B
jazz and gospel tell you mama
thanks to his many talents he also paved
the way for black artists to cross over
into country and pop
did we mention he did this all without
being able to see that’s right despite
being blind since he was seven Charles
continues to be lauded as one of the
greatest singers and artists ever well
what did I say has been hailed as one of
the greatest songs of all time
number two Chuck Berry even John Lennon
said if you tried to give rock-and-roll
another name you might call it Chuck
Berry but if that’s not enough to
convince you that this st. Louis born
legend deserves to be on here then maybe
his onstage presence and incredible
guitar skills will not only did Chuck
Berry set the blueprint for the attitude
associated with how a rock and roller
should act he also sold millions of
records and topped Billboard’s R&B
charts
McCrory
smashes like Maybelline Johnny be good
and sweet little 16 further prove our
case
before we unveil our pick for top
musical act of the 1950’s here are a few
honorable mentions Mario
blueberry
I got a brand new chimney made on top
made out for human school now come on
take a look walk with me Arlene and tell
me who do you love
who do you love darling you
bring me others
come on baby
love me why can’t I breathe out
Oh knock me down step in my face so into
my name all over the plate number one
Elvis Presley wanna do step on my blue
suede shoes no list of the 1950s would
be complete without the king and with a
nickname like that how could he not top
our list bringing what was then known as
black music to the forefront of white
America Elvis Presley set the stage for
a musical revolution like no other and
consequently changed the face of
American popular culture baby
while hits like Heartbreak Hotel hound
dog and don’t be cruel helped black
artists like Little Richard break into
the mainstream
Presley’s dance moves and commercial
success in multiple genres made him one
of the 20th century’s best do you agree
with our list who’s your favorite
musical act of the 1950’s
for more musical top 10s published every
day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com all the shock has privity
dear and he shows them up early wide
pop R&B and rock and roll welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 musical
acts of the 1950s for our series on the
top 10 musical acts per decade we’ve
based our choices on a mix of an acts
success popularity and overall musical
legacy this is part of a series of
videos spanning the decades of music
from the 1950s to the 2000s
some exotic foods as a bar number 10
Frank Sinatra come on lie with me we’ll
fly will buy away after his solo career
began to decline at the end of the 40’s
old blue eyes experienced a rebirth
during the next decade if you’re a young
thanks to an oscar-winning performance
in From Here to Eternity the New Jersey
born musician’s regained the success he
had lost during the previous years you
can live your dreams fall apart at the
scene meanwhile tracks like young at
heart come fly with me and angel eyes
helped him refine his big band
jazzy style and ensured he was once
again a big hit with the ladies his
sound and resurgence in popularity also
contributed to his becoming one of the
best-selling artists ever
lucky people you check on nerves and you
rattle my brain number nine
Jerry Lee Lewis you ruble will but what
a three oh goodness and grace is great
the killer officially began recording at
Sun Records in the mid-50s it didn’t
take long for him to become an
international superstar
in 1957 his cover of whole lotta shakin
goin on propelled him onto the world
stage and into the top three of the
Billboard Pop chart as an early pioneer
of the evolving sound of rock and roll
Jerry Lee Lewis soon became known for
mixing country
rockabilly blues and gospel oh we got
chicken and the bottom the bottom up on
my phone honey we got a fool
by further developing his style and
tunes like great balls of fire Louis
would go on to shape popular music
forever let’s not forget he wasn’t too
shabby on the piano either Oh gracious
great balls of fire number eight Miles
Davis you’ve probably heard his seminal
1959 album kind of blue and you don’t
even know it but it’s one of the most
influential records of all time
thanks to Miles Davis’s unparalleled
musicianship
not only did he alter the way jazz can
be played but this Illinois born trumpet
player also brought improvisation to the
forefront dabbling in bebop modal jazz
and jazz fusion the bandleader composer
and multi-instrumentalist reshaped the
way we can and should hear music and
continue to do so years later most
notably with his groundbreaking album
bitches brew
number seven Johnny Cash I keep a close
watch on I keep my eyes will
I’d open all the kind while he’s more
famous for his output in country
this rebellious musician wouldn’t be as
legendary as he is today without his
ability to make music that spanned many
genres and many decades I was down
slaves would hire with his deep voice
signature rockabilly sound and relatable
persona the man in black truly became a
force to be reckoned with
especially in the 1950s but I shot a man
in Reno just to watch him
darkly themed hits like I walk the line
Folsom Prison Blues and ring a fire
King
number six the Everly Brothers changing
the only non solo act on our list this
duo consisting of dawn and Phil Everly
was a constant presence on the 1950s pop
charts while their brotherly bond may
have contributed to the uniqueness of
their closed harmony singing style the
Everly Brothers also cemented their
place in music history with their simple
but catchy melodies and steel string
guitar driven sound thanks to such
pristine pop beauties as wake up little
Susie and bye-bye love they also went on
to influence multiple artists even the
Beatles
number five Little Richard
by courageously and creatively mixing
genres into a hybrid sound he became one
of the most important artists to lay the
foundation for rock and roll in the late
40s and the 50s further made his mark
with his electric and eccentric
showmanship but it was time capsule
worthy songs like long tall Sally
tutti-frutti and Lucille that really
solidified his spot in music history
not to mention they helped him become
one of the first black artists to really
gain crossover attention and success
number four Buddy Holly music lost a
rock-and-roll giant when Buddy Holly
died in a tragic plane crash in 1959
lady baby you will love me some day
don’t he was only active in the music
industry for less than a decade his
influence and the body of work he left
behind continues to touch us over five
decades later
hey baby soon Britney Britney Britney
Britney Peggy Sue
Oh Peggy my exit
along with the crickets Holly lay down
the standard for a rock and roll band –
guitars bass and drums that’ll be the
day meanwhile it’s like that’ll be the
day
Peggy Sue oh boy rave on and maybe baby
speak for themselves I love my kitchen
you don’t know what you’ve been missing
oh boy oh boy when you’re with me home
all the horribly ready
only
Oh
number three Ray Charles
this soul music pioneer is also a
singer-songwriter piano player composer
and arranger always for a native of
Albany Georgia
Ray Charles tackled countless genres
throughout his career notably blues R&B
jazz and gospel tell you mama
thanks to his many talents he also paved
the way for black artists to cross over
into country and pop
did we mention he did this all without
being able to see that’s right despite
being blind since he was seven Charles
continues to be lauded as one of the
greatest singers and artists ever well
what did I say has been hailed as one of
the greatest songs of all time
number two Chuck Berry even John Lennon
said if you tried to give rock-and-roll
another name you might call it Chuck
Berry but if that’s not enough to
convince you that this st. Louis born
legend deserves to be on here then maybe
his onstage presence and incredible
guitar skills will not only did Chuck
Berry set the blueprint for the attitude
associated with how a rock and roller
should act he also sold millions of
records and topped Billboard’s R&B
charts
McCrory
smashes like Maybelline Johnny be good
and sweet little 16 further prove our
case
before we unveil our pick for top
musical act of the 1950’s here are a few
honorable mentions Mario
blueberry
I got a brand new chimney made on top
made out for human school now come on
take a look walk with me Arlene and tell
me who do you love
who do you love darling you
bring me others
come on baby
love me why can’t I breathe out
Oh knock me down step in my face so into
my name all over the plate number one
Elvis Presley wanna do step on my blue
suede shoes no list of the 1950s would
be complete without the king and with a
nickname like that how could he not top
our list bringing what was then known as
black music to the forefront of white
America Elvis Presley set the stage for
a musical revolution like no other and
consequently changed the face of
American popular culture baby
while hits like Heartbreak Hotel hound
dog and don’t be cruel helped black
artists like Little Richard break into
the mainstream
Presley’s dance moves and commercial
success in multiple genres made him one
of the 20th century’s best do you agree
with our list who’s your favorite
musical act of the 1950’s
for more musical top 10s published every
day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com all the shock has privity
dear and he shows them up early wide
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