| 1956: |
The first boomers are nearly 10; but
half the boomers are yet to be born. And Elvis has his first two hits; rock n' roll takes off. |
| 1957: |
More boomers are born this year than any
year before... or since. Pat Boone and Fats Domino are among the
rock stars of the year. |
| 1958: |
Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" is the
most watched daytime TV show. Ricky Nelson and Jerry Lee Lewis are
among rock's biggest stars. |
| 1959: |
Rock takes a huge step backward: Buddy
Holly, Richie Valens, & the Big Bopper die in a plane
crash. |
| 1960: |
The Twist is born; rock is on a roll! |
| 1961: |
Elvis Presley gives up live performances to
concentrate on films; but rock continues as the Supremes release their
first single. |
| 1962: |
The Beatles are hot in London and Mick Jagger
meets Brian Jones to form The Rolling Stones. In the U.S., Peter, Paul
and Mary, the Beach Boys, and Herb Alpert have their first
hits. |
| 1963: |
President Kennedy is assassinated. But 15
year-old Peggy March, 17 year-old Leslie Gore, and 12 year-old
Stevie Wonder have their first hits. "The torch is passed to a new
generation." |
| 1964: |
The last boomers are born. The Beatles
invade America with four hits on the charts by March, accounting
for 60% of all records sold. |
| 1965: |
DJ Alan Freed and Nat "King" Cole die.
Herman's Hermits, the Rolling Stones and the Dave Clark Five continue
the British invasion. |
| 1966: |
Simon & Garfunkel, The Mammas and the
Pappas, and The Lovin' Spoonful make their mark on rock n'
roll. |
| 1967: |
The "summer of love" features songs by
Scott McKenzie, the Doors, and Procol Harum. |
| 1968: |
The Newport Pop Festival features new
artists such as Sonny & Cher, Grateful Dead, and Eric Burdon and the
Animals.
|
| 1969: |
President Nixon has a plan to the the war;
the U.S. lands a man on the moon; Elvis makes a comeback; and music from
"Hair" tops the charts.
|
| 1970: |
The Beatles go their separate ways; The
Jackson Five sell 10 million records.
|
| 1971: |
The signs of changes in rock are
unmistakable: Filmore East and Filmore West close; Ray Price, Jerry
Reed and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band revive interest in country music;
Gladys Knight and the Pips are among the guests on the last Ed
Sullivan show.
|
| 1972: |
Elton John has his first #1 hit; Jim Croce,
Alice Cooper, and the Eagles enjoy their first hits.
|
| 1973: |
James Taylor and wife Carly Simon are both
hot; Bruce Springsteen makes his debut, though it went largely
unnoticed; Rolling Stone magazine suggests that "rock had run out
of things to say." Indeed, Jim Croice dies in a plane crash, just as his
career was taking off. |
| 1974: |
Harry Chapin had his biggest hit; Billy Joel had
his first hit; and the Who sold out Madison Square Garden in just eight
hours. Indeed, the face of rock n' roll had changed forever.
|
| 1975: |
Some of the 60's rock stars, such as Neil
Sedaka, Paul Anka, Fankie Valli, and Chicago were still on the charts.
But the new wave of rock artists was fully in charge for the late
boomers. Alice Cooper, Barry Manilow, Barry White, the Captain and
Tennille, Eagles, and the Bay City Rollers all came into their own in
1975. Bruce Springsteen made it to the cover of both Newsweek and Time
magazines. The sale of records and tapes added nearly 2.5 billion dollars
to the economy... and the pockets of new millionaire rock stars.
|
