Famous Artists
This artist was known as the "King of Rock and Roll."
Who is Elvis Presley?
This genre, popular in the early 1900s, is known for its syncopated "ragged" rhythms.
What is Ragtime?
This 1959 event, which claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper, became known as "The Day the Music Died."
What is the Clear Lake, Iowa plane crash?
This instrument became the defining sound of rock and roll, with players like Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix.
What is the electric guitar?
This 1960s dance craze, popularized by Chubby Checker, had people twisting their hips to the beat.
What is The Twist?
This trumpeter, singer, and composer was a key figure in jazz and known for "What a Wonderful World."
Who is Louis Armstrong?
This genre, heavily influencing rock and roll, emerged from African American work songs and spirituals.
What is the Blues?
This rock and roll heartthrob, known for "Hello Mary Lou," died in a 1985 plane crash.
Who is Ricky Nelson?
This recording technique, used by Phil Spector, layered multiple instruments to create a "wall of sound."
What is overdubbing?
This early rock and roll dance was made famous by Buddy Dean's dancers on American Bandstand.
What is The Bop?
This artist pioneered rock guitar and wrote hits like "Johnny B. Goode."
Who is Chuck Berry?
A fusion of country and rhythm and blues, this genre was popularized by Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley.
What is Rockabilly?
This 1967 plane crash killed Otis Redding and members of his backing band.
What is the Madison, Wisconsin plane crash?
This guitar pioneer helped popularize the solid-body electric guitar, leading to models like the Gibson Les Paul.
Who is Les Paul?
This 1950s dance, named after a type of insect, was inspired by quick, bouncing movements.
What is The Jitterbug?
This female blues singer, known as "The Empress of the Blues," recorded over 126 songs.
Who is Bessie Smith?
This genre, known for smooth vocals and tight harmonies, was pioneered by groups like The Supremes.
What is Motown?
This Southern rock band lost several members in a 1977 plane crash in Mississippi.
Who are Lynyrd Skynyrd?
This instrument, played with a bottleneck, became a staple of blues and early rock and roll.
What is the slide guitar?
This 1920s dance, often associated with jazz, was named after a South Carolina city.
What is The Charleston?
This Motown legend was responsible for hits like "Superstition" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered."
Who is Stevie Wonder?
This high-energy instrumental genre featured reverb-drenched electric guitars and celebrated the beach lifestyle.
What is Surf Rock?
This musician, known for "La Bamba," was just 17 years old when he died in the 1959 plane crash.
Who is Ritchie Valens?
This innovation, developed in the 1960s, allowed musicians to amplify their guitars with more distortion and sustain.
What is the fuzz pedal?
This dance move, made famous by Chuck Berry, involved scooting across the stage while playing guitar.
What is The Duckwalk?