What are four popular music genres of the 1950’s? identify two artist who contributed to each genre.

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Popular Artists from the 1950s
Songs in 1950
Songs in 1951
Songs in 1952
Songs in 1953
Songs in 1954
Songs in 1955
Songs in 1956
Songs in 1957
Songs in 1958
Songs in 1959
More 1950s Music

The world audience for music in the 1950s was the largest in history and showed every sign of growing even larger. Musicians of reputation were in such demand that they could have been performing every day of the year. Traditional seasonal patterns had disappeared.

In the U.S., music was everywhere, from Muzak to an unaccompanied violin in the restaurant. There was an audience for everything.

From Elvis Presley and Pablo Casals, Andre Kostelanetz and Otto Klemperer, folk singer and the Saint Matthew Passion.

There was a noticeable broadening of the taste of concertgoers.

Rock and Roll was just in its infancy, but LOTS of it was created. I’m always amazed at how many great songs were made in the 50s that I’ve never heard before.

Share your love for 1950s Music: What Songs Were Most Popular?

Classical music was still very popular. Blues, swing and jazz were easily accessible. It was truly the convergence of the future and the past because the Sixties changed everything permanently.

Most old people (like me) know the songs from the 50s that are popular today. Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Patsy Cline are all household names.

But do you really know who ruled the charts in the 1950s? I bet you haven’t heard most of these songs. It’s amazing what we think was popular back then and what actually was popular in the 50s.

It makes me wonder what’s going to be popular in the future that isn’t popular now!

Names like Patti Page, Perry Como and Nat King Cole carry over from the 40s. Rosemary Clooney had a good run, as did Tony Bennett. In the early 50s, the crooners perfected their trade.

But when Elvis came in everything changed. Not only did he completely dominate sales, but pop music from then on was completely different. Guitars, screaming, hip shaking music was topping the charts and the old folks were left wondering what the hell just happened.

Some quick notes: It’s kinda hard to believe All I Have To Do Is Dream gets overtaken by Purple People Eater in 1958. Mr. Blue by The Fleetwoods is a great song. Unchained Melody (1955) and Sleep Walk (1959) are also two of my personal favorites in this list.

Popular Artists from the 1950s

Who were the most popular musical artists in the 1950s?

Patti Page
Andrews Sisters
Nat King Cole
Perry Como
Les Paul
Tony Bennett
Percy Faith & His Orchestra
Doris Day
Rosemary Clooney
Elvis Presley
Guy Mitchell
Sam Cooke
The Everly Brothers
The Platters
Conway Twitty
Pat Boone
Andy Williams
Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Les Baxter
Frankie Avalon

Songs in 1950

What were the most popular songs in 1950?

Jan. 1 – Jan. 6, 1950 Jan. 7 – Jan. 13 Jan. 14 – Feb. 10 Feb. 11 – Mar. 10 Mar. 11 – Mar. 17 Mar. 18 – Mar. 24 Mar. 25 – Apr. 28 Apr. 29 – May 4 May 5 – June 2 June 3 – June 9 June 10 – July 23 June 24 – July 7 July 8 – Aug. 18 Aug. 19 – Oct. 27 Oct. 28 – Nov. 17 Nov. 18 – Dec. 1 Dec. 2 – Dec. 15

Dec.16 – Mar. 2, 1951

Mule Train Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer I Can Dream, Can’t I? Chattanoogie Shoe Shine The Cry Of The Wild Goose Music! Music! Music! If I Knew You Were Comin’ Id’ve Baked a Cake The Third Man Theme The Third Man Theme Hoop-Dee-Doo Sentimental Me I Wanna Be Loved Mona Lisa Goodnight, Irene All My Love Harbor Lights The Thing

The Tennessee Waltz

Frankie Laine Gene Autry Andrews Sisters Red Foley Frankie Laine Teresa Brewer Eileen Barton Anton Karas Guy Lombardo Perry Como with Fontane Sisters Ames Brothers Andrews Sisters Nat King Cole Weavers featuring Gordon Jenkins Patti Page Sammy Kaye Phil Harris

Patti Page

Songs in 1951

What were the most popular songs in 1951?

Dec. 16, 1950 – Mar. 2 Mar. 3 – Mar. 9 Mar. 10 – Apr. 20 Apr. 21 – June 22 June 23 – July 27 July 28 – Sept.7 Sept. 8 – Nov. 2 Nov. 3 – Nov. 16 Nov.17 – Dec. 28

Dec. 29 – Mar. 14, 1952

The Tennessee Waltz If Be My Love How High The Moon Too Young Come On – A My House Because Of You Cold, Cold Heart Sin (It’s No Sin)

Cry

Patti Page Perry Como Mario Lanza Les Paul & Mary Ford Nat King Cole Rosemary Clooney Tony Bennett Tony Bennett Eddy Howard

Johnny Ray

Songs in 1952

What were the most popular songs in 1952?

Dec. 29, 1951 – Mar. 14 Mar. 15 – May 16 May 17 – June 20 June 21 – July 4 July 5 – July 11 July 12 – Sept. 12 Sept. 13 – Oct. 17 Oct. 18 – Nov. 21 Nov. 22 – Nov. 28 Nov. 29 – Dec. 26

Dec. 27 – Jan. 9, 1953

Cry Wheel of Fortune Blue Tango Here in My Heart Delicado Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart You Belong to Me I Went To Your Wedding It’s In The Book Why Don’t You Believe Me

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Johnny Ray Kay Starr Leroy Anderson Al Martino Percy Faith & his Orchestra Vera Lynn Jo Stafford Patti Page Johnny Standley Joni James

Jimmy Boyd

Songs in 1953

What were the most popular songs in 1953?

Dec. 27, 1952 – Jan. 9 Jan. 10 – Feb. 13 Feb. 14 – Mar. 20 Mar. 21 – May 15 May 16 – July 24 July 25 – Aug. 7 Aug. 8 – Oct. 9 Oct. 10 – Nov. 6 Nov. 7 – Nov. 20

Nov. 21 – Jan. 1, 1954

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes Till I Waltz Again With You The Doggie In The Window Song From Moulin Rouge I’m Walking Behind You Vaya Con Dios St. George And The Dragonet Vaya Con Dios

Rags To Riches

Jimmy Boyd Perry Como Teresa Brewer Patti Page Percy Faith & his Orchestra Eddie Fisher Les Paul & Mary Ford Stan Freberg Les Paul & Mary Ford

Tony Bennett

Songs in 1954

What were the most popular songs in 1954?

Nov. 21, 1953 – Jan. 1 Jan. 2 – Feb. 26 Feb. 27 – Mar. 12 Mar. 13 – Mar. 19 Mar. 20 – Mar. 26 Ma. 27 – Apr. 9 Apr. 10 – May 28 May 29 – Aug. 6 Aug. 7 – Sept. 24 Sept. 25 – Nov. 5 Nov. 6 – Nov. 12 Nove. 13 – Dec. 3

Dec. 4, – Jan. 21, 1955

Rags To Riches Oh My Papa Secret Love Make Love To Me Secret Love Make Love To Me Wanted Little Things Mean A Lot Sh-Boom Hey There This Ole House I Need You Now

Mr. Sandman

Tony Bennett Eddie Fisher Doris Day Jo Stafford Doris Day Jo Stafford Perry Como Kitty Kallen Crew-Cuts Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney Eddie Fisher

The Chordettes

Songs in 1955

What were the most popular songs in 1955?

Dec. 4, 1954 – Jan. 21 Jan. 22 – Feb. 4 Feb. 5 – Feb. 11 Feb. 12 – Mar. 25 Mar. 26 – Apr. 29 Apr. 30 – July 8 July 9 – Sept. 2 Sept. 3 – Oct. 7 Oct. 8 – Oct. 14 Oct. 15 – Oct. 21 Oct. 22 – Oct. 28 Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 Nov. 5 – Nov. 25

Nov. 26 – Jan. 13, 1956

Mr. Sandman Let Me Go, Lover Hearts of Stone Sincerely The Ballad Of Davy Crockett Unchained Melody Rock Around The Clock Yellow Rose Of Texas Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Yellow Rose Of Texas Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Autumn Leaves Love Is a Many Splendored Thing

Sixteen Tons

The Chordettes Joan Weber Fontane Sisters McGuire Sisters Bill Hayes Les Baxter Bill Haley & his Comets Mitch Miller The Four Aces Mitch Miller The Four Aces Roger Williams The Four Aces

Tennessee Ernie Ford

Songs in 1956

What were the most popular songs in 1956?

Nov. 26, 1955 – Jan. 13 Jan. 14 – Feb. 17 Feb. 18 – Mar. 2 Mar. 3 – Mar. 23 Mar. 24 – May 2 May 3 – June 15 June 16 – Aug. 3 Aug. 4 – Aug. 17 Augu. 18 – Sept. 14 Septe. 15 – Nov. 2 Nov. 3 – Nov. 16 Nove. 17 – Dec. 7 Dec. 8 – Dec. 21 Dec. 22 – Dec. 28

Dec. 29 – Feb. 8, 1957

Sixteen Tons Memories Are Made Of This Great Pretender Rock And Roll Waltz Poor People Of Paris Heartbreak Hotel Wayward Wind I Almost Lost My Mind My Prayer Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog Green Door Love Me Tender Singing The Blues Love Me Tender

Singing The Blues

Tennessee Ernie Ford Dean Martin The Platters Kay Starr Les Baxter Elvis Presley Gogi Grant Pat Boone The Platters Elvis Presley Jim Lowe Elvis Presley Guy Mitchell Elvis Presley

Guy Mitchell

Songs in 1957

What were the most popular songs in 1957?

Dec. 29, 1956 – Feb. 8 Feb. 9 – Feb. 15 Feb. 16 – Mar. 29 Mar. 30 – Apr. 19 Apr. 20 – June 2 June 3 – July 14 July 15 – Sept. 1 Sept. 2 – Oct. 6 Oct. 7 – Oct. 20 Oct. 21 – Nov.3 Nov. 4 – Dec. 8 Dec. 9 – Dec. 29

Dec. 30, – Jan. 10, 1958

Singing The Blues Don’t Forbid Me Young Love Butterfly All Shook Up Love Letters In The Sand Teddy Bear Tammy Honeycomb Wake Up Little Susie Jailhouse Rock You Send Me

April Love

Guy Mitchell Pat Boone Tab Hunter Andy Williams Elvis Presley Pat Boone Elvis Presley Debbie Reynolds Jimmie Rodgers The Everly Brothers Elvis Presley Sam Cooke

Pat Boone

Songs in 1958

What were the most popular songs in 1958?

Dec. 30, 1957 – Jan. 10 Jan. 11 – Feb. 14 Feb. 15 – Mar. 21 Mar. 22 – Apr. 25 Apr. 26 – May 2 May 3 – May 16 May 17 – June 13 June 14 – July 25 July 26 – Aug. 8 Aug. 23 – Aug. 29 Aug. 30 – Sept. 5 Sept. 6 – Oct. 3 Oct. 4 – Nov. 14 Nov. 15 – Nov. 21 Nov. 22 – Nov. 28 Nov. 29 – Dec. 5 Dec. 6 – Dec. 26

Dec. 27 – Jan. 18, 1959

April Love At The Hop Don’t (I Beg of You) Tequila Twilight Time Witch Doctor All I Have To Do Is Dream Purple People Eater Hard Headed Woman Volare Little Star Volare It’s All In The Game It’s Only Make Believe Tom Dooley It’s Only Make Believe To Know Him is To Love Him

Chipmunk Song

Pat Boone Danny and the Juniors Elvis Presley The Champs The Platters David Seville The Everly Brothers Sheb Wooley Elvis Presley Domenico Modugno The Elegants Domenico Modugno Tommy Edwards Conway Twitty Kingston Trio Conway Twitty Teddy Bears

David Seville & The Chipmunks

Songs in 1959

What were the most popular songs in 1959?

Dec. 27, 1958 – Jan. 18 Jan. 19 – Feb. 8 Feb. 9 – Mar. 8 Mar. 9 – Apr. 12 Apr. 13 – May 10 May 11 – May 17 May 18 – May 31 June 1 – June 12 July 13 – Aug. 9 Aug. 10 – Aug. 23 Aug. 24 – Sept. 20 Sept. 21 – Oct. 4 Oct. 5 – Nov. 15 Nov. 16 – Dec. 13 Dec. 14 – Dec. 27

Dec. 28 – Jan. 3, 1960

Chipmunk Song Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Stagger Lee Venus Come Softly To Me The Happy Organ Kansas City The Battle Of New Orleans Lonely Boy A Big Hunk O’ Love The Three Bells Sleep Walk Mack The Knife Mr. Blue Heartaches By The Number

Why

David Seville & The Chipmunks The Platters Lloyd Price Frankie Avalon The Fleetwoods Dave “Baby” Cortez Wilbert Harrison Johnny Horton Paul Anka Elvis Presley The Browns Santo & Johnny Bobby Darin The Fleetwoods Guy Mitchell

Frankie Avalon