rock and roll

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Bill Haley and His Comets

East and West German cultural changes: 1950s Music, fashion, and more

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Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

President Richard M. Nixon smiles and gives the victory sign as he boards the White House helicopter after his resignation on August 9, 1974 in Washington, D.C.

Timeline of the 1970s

iPod. The iPod nano released to the public Sept. 2010 completely redesigned with Multi-Touch. Half the size and even easier to play. Choose from seven electric colors. iPod portable media player developed by Apple Inc., first released in 2001.

10 Musical Acts That Scored 10 #1 Hits

Elvis Presley performing on the television show "Elvis: The Comeback Special" (1968).

Why Is Elvis Called “the King of Rock ’n’ Roll”?

British rock group The Beatles, waving to screaming fans en route to Boston, Massachusetts airport (from l to r) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, on August 12, 1966.

Did the Beatles Really Say They Were More Popular than Jesus?

Discover

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

airplane in flight (plane, aircraft, flying)

7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

Portion of the Aleppo Codex, a manuscript of the Hebrew Bible written in the Hebrew language in the 10th century CE; in the Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Why Do Languages Die?

Close up of praying mantis walking on stone ground against a blurred background in Japan

6 Animals That Eat Their Mates

Car with a pickle design in the Zagreb Red Bull Soapbox Race, Zagreb, Croatia, September 14, 2019. (games, races, sports)

10 Unusual Sports

Rainbow flag. Sign of diversity, inclusiveness, hope, yearning. Gay pride flag popularized by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. Inspired by Judy Garland singing Over the Rainbow. gay rights, homosexual, gays, LGBT community

13 LGBTQ Writers You Should Read

rock and roll: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	rock ’n’ roll

Photos and Videos

Bill Haley and His Comets

East and West German cultural changes: 1950s Music, fashion, and more

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

rock art rock country rock folk rock doo-wop heavy metal rockabilly punk psychedelic rock alternative rock girl groups

Key People

The King of Rock and Roll

Elvis Presley

American singer and actor

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney

British musician

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger

British singer

Forever young

Buddy Holly

American musician

John Lennon, 1968

John Lennon

British musician

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry

American musician

Sam Phillips

American record producer

Brian Matthew

British disc jockey

Chubby Checker

American singer

Lee Hazlewood

American musician and record producer

John Entwistle

British musician

Jocko Henderson

American radio personality

Alan Freed

American radio personality

Rick Wright

British musician

Norman Petty

American musician and producer

Larry Lujack

American disc jockey

Screaming Lord Sutch

British musician and politician

Syd Nathan

American record producer

Connie Francis

Connie Francis

American singer

Little Richard

Little Richard

American musician

Quiz

USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood

Pop Culture Quiz

Young girl wearing a demin jacket playing the trumpet (child, musical instruments, Asian ethnicity)

Sound Check: Musical Vocabulary Quiz

Publicity still of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock in 1957. (cinema, movies, motion pictures, film)

Rock Music and Rock ’n’ Roll

Publicity still of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock in 1957. (cinema, movies, motion pictures, film)

Rock Music and Rock ’n’ Roll

Dancers performing the jitterbug at a juke joint outside Clarksdale, Miss., 1939.

Rock and Roll Call