1950s in music Pop. In 1951, Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey Alan Freed began playing rhythm and blues music for a multi-racial audience, and is credited with first using the phrase "rock and roll" to describe the music. The 1950s saw the growth in popularity of the electric guitar (developed and popularized by Les Paul). Paul's hit records like "How High the Moon", and "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise", helped lead to the development of a specifically rock and roll style of playing of such exponents as Chuck Berry, Link Wray, and Scotty Moore. Chuck Berry, who is considered to be one
The History of Rock and Roll contents "A Day in the Life". The revised 1978 version ended with Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" (the number one song at the time that version was being prepared), while the 1981 version ended with 1981's "I Love a Rainy Night" (Eddie Rabbitt), followed by The Beatles' version of "Rock and Roll Music". The History of Rock and Roll contents The History of Rock and Roll is a radio documentary on rock and roll music, originally syndicated in 1969, and again in 1978 and 1981. It is currently distributed as a 2 1/2 minute short feature on internet networks.