ROCK 'N' ROLL

ELVIS PRESLEY

JERRY LEE LEWIS

BUDDY HOLLY

CHUCK BERRY

LITTLE RICHARD

GENE VINCENT

THE BEACH BOYS

THE VENTURES

ROCK 'N' ROLL

Elvis Presley (Mississippi, 1935) is considered one of the most cultural icons in the 20th century, such is the case that he is denominated as “The king of Rock and Roll”. He started his career as musician in 1954 signing with “Sun Records”. His first album was recorded as a gift for his mother. In 1956 he recorded “Heartbreak Hotel” which was his first Nº1 album.

He also worked in films as “Love me Tender” which was his first one. Elvis Presley sung few of his songs in films, such as “Jailhouse rock”.

He died in 1977 because of a heart attack after health problems.

Known as “The Killer”, Jerry Lee Lewis (Louisiana, 1935) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and pianist. He signed for “Sun Records” in 1956, after read an article about Elvis Presley in a magazine. In that year, he recorded a CD with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.

He became famous when, in 1957, he recorded Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On. A record that he said that he might not record due to his sexual content.

At his 80 years old, he continues singing in concerts.

Charles Buddy Holly (Texas, 1936), or simply Buddy Holly, was an American composer and singer. Considered as one of the creators of Rock & Roll. He started with My Two Timin' Woman which was recorded with a wire recorder in 1949. But after some years, in 1957, he get his first Nº1: That'll Be The Day.

In 1959, after a concert, he died because of a plane accident.

The African-American Chuck Berry (Missouri, 1926) is an American guitarist and singer. He refined rhythm and blues and into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive. He was interested in music since he went to High School.

He started as musician in a Rhythm and Blues group Johnnie Johnson Trio in 1953, playing the saxophone. Later, he started to sing in that group which was renamed as Chuck Berry Combo. He was sent to jail in 1959, where he continued to compose songs which was released after he got out jail.

Now, he sings often in a bar in St Louis, where he was born.

Richard Wayne Penniman, or known as Little Richard (Georgia, USA, 1932), is an American Rock & Roll singer. He won a local contest and signed a contract with RCA Records, where he recorded 8 records. In 1953, he formed a group, the Upsetters, but some months later, he decided to left the group to record singles, which succeeded.

In 1957 he decided to stop his career as musician, but some years later, he returned in 1962 with a tour around UK, where he sang with the Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

Gene Vincent (Virginia, 1935) started to play the guitar when he was very young. He enlisted when he was 17, but after an accident, he had to left the army and he joined in a country group, the blue caps, where he recorded Be-Bob-A-Lula which was successful. After that album, they got great songs.

In 1959, he did a tour with Eddie Cochran in UK. There, he had a car accident and he became lame. He continued his tour and sang with The Beatles and Chuck Berry. At 36 years old, he died because of health problems.

SURF MUSIC

The Beach Boys is a pop rock band formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961. It was the most representative band of the californian lifestyle, the music and the surf culture.

At first, the band was formed by Wilson brothers: Brian (composer, bass and piano), Carl (guitar) and Dennis (drum). There was also one of their cousins, Mike Love (voice) and a Brian study partner, Al Jardine (guitar). All of them also sang.

The band has been changing over time, with different members and music styles, like pop, psychedelic pop, soul and gospel. Nicknamed as the American Beatles, they were rated as the twelfth in the 100 greatest artist ranking of the Rolling Stones magazine.

The Ventures are an instrumental band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Was founded by Don Wilson (rhythm guitar) and Bob Bogle(bass), also Mel Taylor (drum) and Nokie Edwards (lead guitar).

The band has had a great impact on the development of music worldwide. Is the best selling instrumental band of all time, with over 100 million records sold. They joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

They are not only famous in the United States, they are “big in Japan”, what describes a western band with success in Japan, but not necessarily in other parts of the world.

ROCK 'N' ROLL

ELVIS PRESLEY

JERRY LEE LEWIS

BUDDY HOLLY

CHUCK BERRY

LITTLE RICHARD

GENE VINCENT

THE BEACH BOYS

THE VENTURES

Always on my Mind

Great Balls of Fire

Peggie Sue

Maybellene

Tutti Frutti

Lotta Lovin'

Good Vibrations

Walk Don't Run