About 1960s Music
As the conservative 1950s ended, a new era began in the 1960s. Music of the 1960s reflected the culture of the tumultuous era, which featured the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, Woodstock and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Artists of the 1960s experimented with new forms of music, used music for social commentary and influenced future generations.
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British Invasion
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During the 1960s, many artists from Great Britain, influenced by rock and roll music, flooded the radio airwaves in the United States. The Beatles' first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 was watched by more than 70 million television viewers and is commonly referred to as the beginning of the British Invasion. The Who, The Animals, The Kinks, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Dusty Springfield, Herman's Hermits and The Rolling Stones are other artists from the British Invasion.
Motown
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Berry Gordy, Jr., established the independent music label Motown, located in Detroit, Michigan. During the 1960s, the sounds from Motown were deeply rooted in soul. Motown, also known as Hitsville USA, was the first record label owned by an African American, and its performers were mostly African Americans who found success on the pop charts. The Temptations, Jackson 5, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops and Stevie Wonder are examples of Motown artists from the 1960s.
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Folk Music
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Folk musicians of the 1960s sang about concerns of their era, including Civil Rights and the Vietnam War. Lyrics of folk music offered hope and promise. Bob Dylan is a folk singer from the 1960s who used his lyrics to create public awareness of what was happening in the world; he recorded "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They are a-Changin'" in the 1960s. Other folk musicians of the 1960s included Peter, Paul and Mary, Phil Ochs and Joan Baez.
Psychedelic Music
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Psychedelic music was rooted in experimentation with different sounds, using electric guitars and keyboards, and its lyrics often referenced drugs. Psychedelic music also made use of the newest technology and Eastern instruments (such as sitars). The Beatles, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Cream, The Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane are all bands who experimented in psychedelic music in the 1960s.
The Beatles
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The Beatles, hailing from Liverpool, England, was comprised of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The band played numerous hits, including "Let It Be," "Hey Jude," and "Yesterday." According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Beatles achievements were attributed to the skillful songwriting of Lennon and McCartney and pure cohesive harmonies. During the 1960s, the band ruled the pop charts and recorded more than 40 "Top Forty" hits. In 1966, the band ceased touring to concentrate on recording. The Beatles then went onto release the albums "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "The Beatles," and "Let It Be" before disbanding.
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