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Music Styles, Bands And Artists during the 1960's

The 1960's were a time of upheaval in society, fashion, attitudes and especially music. Before 1963, the music of the sixties still reflected the sound, style and beliefs of the previous decade and many of the hit records were by artists who had found mainstream success in the 1950s, like Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Dion, and The Everly Brothers. In 1963 and the years to follow, a number of social influences changed what popular music was and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today. The assassination of President Kennedy, the escalation of the war in Vietnam and the forward-progress of the Civil Rights Movement all greatly impacted the mood of American culture and the music began to reflect that change. The "British Invasion" also began around 1963 with the arrival of The Beatles on the music scene and the type of rabid fandom that followed them would change the way people would view and interact with music and musicians forever. In this section we will cover the history of the "British Invasion", Motown and R&B, Folk and Protest music, and the large amount of variation that emerged in Rock music throughout the sixties.

Popular Music Genres of the 1960's

British Invasion

The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Yardbirds, Donovan, Manfred Mann, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, The Animals

Motown/R&B

The Marvelettes, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Drifters, The Temptations, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, Aretha Franklin, Canned Heat

Surf Rock and Psychedelic Rock

The Beach Boys, The Ventures, The Champs, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jefferson Airplane, Jan and Dean, The Kingsmen, The Trashmen

Roots Rock and Hard Rock

Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steppenwolf, Roy Orbison, Procol Harum, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Animals, The Band, The Troggs

Folk Rock and Protest Music

Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas & the Papas, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Byrds, The Turtles, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter, Paul and Mary

Acappella

The Persuasions & The Heartaches & The Concepts & The Five Jades & The Notations & The Chessmen & The Five Sharks & The Royal Counts & The Zircons & The Five Fashions & The Del Capris & The Shells

British Invasion

The "British Invasion" is the name given to the period of time in the early to mid-1960's, during which many British rock bands and pop artists found mainstream success in the United States and worldwide. Many of these bands first started by covering American songs and showcasing an American Rock 'n' Roll and R&B influence in their sounds. As these bands gained popularity, many of them ventured into new music territory and created their own unique styles. The one band that comes to mind when speaking of the British Invasion is The Beatles, who first broke into the US music scene in 1963, but really became popular in 1964 after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles dominated worldwide charts from that point in time until they broke up in 1970. The phenomenon that surrounded them was known as Beatlemania and many up and coming music acts emulated their "Liverpool Sound". The band holds many musical records to this day reflecting album sales and number one singles and they're music remains some of the most popular of all time. They can be easily described as the most influential group of the 1960's. Some other notable British Invasion acts include The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who, Herman's Hermits, Tom Jones, and Donovan, some of whom reached comparable success levels to the Beatles but had different influences on music all together.

Motown and R&B

The "Motown Sound" and popular R&B music had a major significance in terms of the Civil Rights movement and integration in American society during the sixties. Motown started as a Detroit-based record label in the late fifties and early sixties, but it quickly turned into much more as the acts gained popularity worldwide. Motown records consisted mainly of African-American groups, singers, songwriters and management and their musical and business success proved in breaking down the barriers of segregation and granted African-American performers and musicians a chances to reappropriate much of the success that had been credited to white rock 'n' rollers and pop artists who had success in singing "black music" during the previous decade. Two of the most influential groups to come out of the Motown sound were Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and Diana Ross and the Supremes, both of which had as much chart success as any of the rock groups that dominated the airwaves during the sixties. The success of Motown also paved the way for R&B singers and groups who were not necessarily a part of the movement to also enjoy mainstream success. Some other popular Motown and 60's R&B artists include The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and the Jackson Five.

Rock and its Subgenres

While rock 'n' roll music entered the popular music spectrum in the 1950s, rock music really came into its own in the 1960s. Rock music dominated the popular music scene during the decade and as the genre grew and changed, many diverse and new subgenres emerged, all tied to original rock but each with their own unique style and purpose. These specific subgenres also had varying levels of popularity throughout the decade and many are still popular today. Quite a few rock bands and musicians oscillated between these genres depending on what was popular at the time and used it as a way to experiment with finding their own true sound. Some of the rock subgenres that we will touch upon are surf, psychedelic, roots, and hard rock. It is important to remember that the specific artists we discuss in these various sections often fall into more than one category and it is up for debate amongst their fans what genre they best represent. We have tried our best to categorize these artists and realize there was much cross-over during the decade.

Surf Rock and Psychedelic Rock

Surf rock began in Southern California as a type of dance music that was mostly instrumental and it became quite popular in the early to mid sixties, until the British Invasion took over the music scene. The subject matter for surf rock was quite literally surfing, however, that expanded as the genre grew in popularity to songs about girls, cars and general teenage antics. The most influential and popular group to come out of the genre were The Beach Boys, whose vocal harmonies and well-crafted compositions came to define the genre. The Beach Boys were one of the only bands to come out of the genre and sustain their success. Some other important surf rock acts include Jan and Dean, The Ventures and The Champs.

Psychedelic rock was popular during the latter half of the 1960s and reached its peak at the end of the decade. Psychedelic music was associated with the hippie counter-culture and hallucinogenic drug use and it was created with the intention of "enhancing" the experience of listeners who were using LSD or other mind-altering substances. The lyrics were often strange and made reference to drugs and bands would often use instruments that were not usual, like the sitar, tabla, harpsichord and organ. There was much experimentation in the sound and much of it was influenced by Eastern and Indian music. Psychedelic rock along with Folk rock became two of the most recognizable sounds associated with 1967's "Summer of Love" phenomenon. Many popular rock bands experimented with this genre, including The Beatles, The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Pink Floyd, and The Yardbirds.

Roots Rock and Hard Rock

Roots rock emerged in the mid to late 1960s as a combination of several genres and subgenres of rock music that were popular at the time. Roots rock combined elements of folk music, blues, country and rock 'n' roll. And, the genre was exemplified by its "back to basics" sound. Bob Dylan is thought to have pioneered the genre with the release of his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde that demonstrated what roots rock was to become. Many of the most popular bands of the time joined the "roots revival" and crafted albums of their own that featured and experimented with a roots sound. Some of the bands that created music in the style of this broad genre included The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Beatles, The Band, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Hard rock took the elements of rock 'n' roll and made them heavier as the genre formed in the middle of the decade. The sound is characterized by more aggressive tones and delivery. Hard rock vocalists are identified by their higher range and distinct and often raspy voices. The music was influenced heavily by blues rock, garage rock, and rhythm and blues. This style became associated with rebellious youth and an anti-authority demeanor, with a few acts even destroying their own instruments on stage (like The Who). Due to their hard-partying lifestyles, many musicians that were a part of the hard rock scene developed drug and alcohol problems. As a result of these problems, quite a few influential musicians died at a young age from substance abuse or accidents related to substance abuse like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Notable hard rock bands form the 1960s include The Who, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and Steppenwolf.

Folk Rock and Protest Music

Folk rock came onto the scene as a popular genre in the mid-sixties and much of it grew out of the protest movements that were active during those turbulent times. Much of the folk rock and protest movement was born out of the emerging group of singer-songwriters that were influenced by the folk musicians of the 1930s. Bob Dylan became one of the most prominent songwriters of the decade with many popular groups such as The Byrds and Peter, Paul and Mary covering his songs successfully. Dylan even saw success as a solo performer and was recognized by his unusual voice. This genre was characterized by its melodic sound and did not necessarily have to connect to the protest movements at the time, although lyrically a lot of the folk rock contained protest messages.

Protest music was distinctly different in that it always had a message and was not confined to the sound and style of folk rock. This music was often a reaction to social injustice, cultural changes, and news events. And, in many cases, it brought awareness to the younger generation who would then join the protest, therefore growing the movements. This genre was not necessarily specific to certain artists either, as many mainstream musicians decided to contribute to the cannon with their own feelings. For example, R&B and Soul singer Same Cooke wrote and recorded "A Change Is Gonna Come" in 1963, a song that became an anthem for the Civil Rights movement in America, along with others like Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and James Brown's "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" from 1963 and 1968 respectively. Another issue that protest music was used to address was the war in Vietnam and its escalation during the decade. As more and more American troops were being sent to Vietnam with virtually no progress being made, an anti-war movement began to gain steam in the mid-sixties and protest music accompanied it. Some examples of anti-Vietnam songs were Pete Seeger's "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy from 1967, The Door's "The Unknown Soldier" from 1968, and Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" from 1963. Both folk music and protest music were connected to the "hippie" movement at the time and greatly influenced and were influenced by the feelings of freedom, love and peace that characterized the hippies. Some examples of folk rock and protest musicians from the 1960s include Peter, Paul and Mary, Cat Stevens, Buffalo Springfield, Simon and Garfunkel, and Pete Seeger.

Music Festivals and Their Influence

The sixties was a decade in which music festivals flourished, especially at the end of the decade. The Monterey Pop Festival took place in 1967, and featured some of the most popular rock musicians of the time and was one of the first heavily attended rock festivals. Many of the most popular acts of the decade had their first major American appearance at this festival like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair of 1969 represents one of the most iconic events of the sixties and is thought of as the culmination of the social revolution that took place during those times. It was a free concert that lasted for three days and showcased some of the most iconic musicians of the time. It is thought to have exemplified the popularity of the hippie counter-culture with an estimated 500,000 attendees reveling in free love, peace and rock music.

Popular Songs Each Year in the 60's

Popular songs from the Sixties Decade, arranged by year but in no particular order. Do you remember listening to these songs on the radio?

Some hits from the 60's I still listen to now more than 50 years later

Apache The Shadows 1960
The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Tokens 1961
Please Mr. Postman The Marvelettes 1961
Return To Sender Elvis Presley 1962
She Loves You The Beatles 1963
I Want To Hold Your Hand The Beatles 1963
Baby Love - The Supremes 1964
The House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals 1964
I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits 1964
I Got You Babe Sonny & Cher 1965
Wild Thing The Troggs 1966.
Good Vibrations The Beach Boys 1966
These Boots Are Made For Walkin Nancy Sinatra 1966
A Whiter Shade Of Pale Procol Harum 1967
Lily The Pink Scaffold 1968
I Heard It Through The Grapevine Marvin Gaye 1969
Honky Tonk Women The Rolling Stones 1969
Something In The Air Thunderclap Newman 1969
In The Year 2525 Zager & Evans 1969
Bad Moon Rising Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969

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1960s Music History including Sixties Styles, Bands And Artists

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Music Styles, Bands And Artists during the 1960's The 1960's were a time of upheaval in society, fashion, attitudes and especially music. Before 1963, the music of the sixties still reflected the sound, style and beliefs of the previous decade and many of the hit records were by artists who had found mainstream success in the 1950s, like Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Dion, and The Everly Brothers.

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The groovy 1960's ushered in a new era of television programming as broadcasts began to transition from black and white to color during this time. Lighthearted sitcoms and comedies ruled the day as some of the most-watched shows were series like The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Beverly Hillbillies and The Andy Griffith Show. There were countless shows of '60s that had a touch of the supernatural, science fiction or fantasy with Bewitched, Star Trek and The Addams Family being among the highest rated. Rural-themed and military inspired shows like Green Acres and Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. also proved popular with viewers, but soon declined as viewers became more socially conscious towards the end of the 1960's. Memorable theme song lyrics also added to the whimsy of classic shows during this decade.

Below is our collection of some of the best 1960s TV series that aired during primetime television from 1960 to 1969.

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1960's TV Shows - Best of 60's TV - Popular Series 1960-1969 - Classic TV Database

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The groovy 1960's ushered in a new era of television programming as broadcasts began to transition from black and white to color during this time. Lighthearted sitcoms and comedies ruled the day as some of the most-watched shows were series like The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Beverly Hillbillies and The Andy Griffith Show.

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1960-1970 - AP U.S. History Timelines - Study Notes

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100% Free AP Test Prep website that offers study material to high school students seeking to prepare for AP exams. Enterprising students use this website to learn AP class material, study for class quizzes and tests, and to brush up on course material before the big exam day.

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1. 1960 Democrat John F. Kennedy wins the U.S. Presidential Election after defeating Republican Richard Nixon.

2. 1961 The Bay of Pigs invasion is an unsuccessful U,S, backed operation to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba

3. 1962 The Cuban Missile Crisis has the world on the edge of another World War

4. 1963 United States President John F. Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.

5. 1964 United States President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law.

6. 1965 Martin Luther King, Jr. leads a peaceful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama.

7. 1966 Indira Gandhi becomes the Prime Minister of India.

8. 1967 The Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs play against each other in the first Super Bowl,

9. 1968 Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in April by James Earl Ray.

10. 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first men to arrive on the Moon during NASA's Apollo 11 mission.

More Detailed Information on each Event and those not included can be found below
The Sixties dominated by the Vietnam War, Civil Rights Protests, the 60s also saw the assassinations of US President John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Cuban Missile Crisis, and finally ended on a good note when the first man is landed on the moon .
The events listed below we have tried to put a small paragraph on the specific year page providing additional information )

1960
What Happened in 1960 History
Democrat John F. Kennedy wins the U.S. Presidential Election after defeating Republican Richard Nixon. Kennedy became the first president and was the youngest person to have been elected into the highest office at the time.

Togo, Cote D'Ivoire, Chad, Benin, Mauritania, Senegal, and the Central African Republic gain independence from France.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is created.

The United States decides to send 3,500 U.S. troops to Vietnam.

TIROS-1, the first weather satellite, is launched by the U.S.

1961
What Happened in 1961 History
Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person in space. One month later, Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space.

Construction on the Berlin Wall begins in an effort to separate East and West Berlin.

The Bay of Pigs invasion is an unsuccessful U,S, backed operation to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba.

The Peace Corps is created.

WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) is created.

1962
What Happened in 1962 History
The Cuban Missile Crisis has the world on the edge of another World War as the United States and USSR come close to launching nuclear attacks.

James Meredith becomes the first African-American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.

The comic book character of Spider-Man makes his debut in the Amazing Fantasy #15 comic.

The Beatles release their first single, "Love Me Do," in the United Kingdom.

Sam Walton opens the first Wal-Mart store in Arkansas.

1963
What Happened in 1963 History
United States President John F. Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.

U.S. Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. gives is famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

The United States begins to use Zip Codes.

Yugoslavia becomes a socialist federal republic and President Josip Tito is appointed as "President for Life."

The BBC broadcasts the very first episode of the iconic television show "Doctor Who."

Money and Inflation 1960's

To provide an estimate of inflation we have given a guide to the value of $100 US Dollars for the first year in the decade to the equivalent in today's money

If you have $100 Converted from 1960 to 2021 it would be equivalent to $922.31 today

In 1960 a new house cost $12,700.00 and by 1969 was $15,500.00

In 1960 the average income per year was $5,315.00 and by 1969 was $8,540.00

In 1960 a gallon of gas was 25 cents and by 1969 was 35 cents

In 1960 the average cost of new car was $2,600.00 and by 1969 was $3,270.00
A few more prices from the 60's and how much things cost
Volkswagen beetle $1,769

Ford Mustang 2 door hardtop $2368

Misses Swinging Shifts Skirts $5.00

Oxford men's Shoes $12.95

1960 Men's Pocket Watch $9.44

Automatic Can Opener $8.88

Automatic Electric Blanket $9.94

Oranges 89 cents for 2 dozen

Oven ready Turkeys 39 cents per pound

Modern Walnut Bookcase $29.97

Coal $14.95 ton

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Childrens Toys From The 1960's

Kids Toys From the 60s

Popular toys of the 1960s were related to space travel and the moon. For girls the Barbie doll was a must-have and for boys the G.I. Joe action figure was popular. A heavy influence from Children's TV shows and pop culture of the time also meant that toys featuring specific characters like Caspar and The Flintstones were featured heavily. Music was also a factor with many toys featuring the most popular band of the time, the Beatles. Games were also popular with more variety of board games, table games, and puzzles available.

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What Happened in the 1960s inc. News, Popular Culture, Prices and Technology

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1960 Democrat John F. Kennedy wins the U.S. Presidential Election after defeating Republican Richard Nixon. 1961 The Bay of Pigs invasion is an unsuccessful U,S, backed operation to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba 1962 The Cuban Missile Crisis has the world on the edge of another World War 1963 United States President John F.

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1960s Fashion: Clothing Styles, Trends, Pictures & History

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Early 1960s fashion was more conservative. Late ’60s clothes were the exact opposite. Greaser, mod or hippie? Year-by-year timeline with over 50 pics.

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1960s Cars - American Motors (AMC) - A Photo Album| FiftiesWeb

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1960s Cars - AMC Come browse through a photo gallery of terrific 1960s automobiles