Overview
In this lesson, we will see the tremendous influence that British musicians exerted on American popular music during the 1960s. The sudden popularity of British rock bands in the United States is called the British Invasion. After the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, the British presence in rock and roll was firmly established.
Objectives
- Recall the development of rock and roll in Britain, focusing specifically on origins and early careers of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones
- Recall the number of stylistic, personnel, and managements changes of the Beatles before settling into the image of the Fab Four in matching suits
Introduction
No course on American popular music can be complete without considering the role of the British Invasion during the 1960s. As we will see in this lesson, both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones started their musical careers by playing covers of American musical genres such as the blues and rock and roll. The Beatles’ music showed the influence of American rock and roll artists such as Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. The Rolling Stones began as a blues cover band in London, playing covers of Chicago blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley.
