Chart-Topping Legends
This female vocal quartet hit #1 in 1954 with their whimsical request for a "dream" maker, complete with their signature rhythmic handclaps.
The Chordettes
This artist’s 1956 hit "Blue Suede Shoes" was the first song to simultaneously top the country, R&B, and pop charts, though "The King" would later make it even more famous.
Carl Perkins
This pop singer had a hit with ”Runaround Sue“
Dion
This "King of Swing" was a virtuoso clarinetist whose 1938 recording of "Begin the Beguine" became one of the defining records of the era.
Artie Shaw
This 1955 ballad was the first #1 hit for the Platters, becoming one of the most enduring love songs of the early rock and roll era.
Only You
A true "Godmother of Rock and Roll," this artist is seen here ripping an electric guitar solo in 1964, blending gospel soul with the distortion that would define rock guitar.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
This singer made ”Mack the Knife“ a pop hit in 1959.
Bobby Darin
His orchestra’s theme song, "One O'Clock Jump," became a jazz standard and showcased his "Kansas City Style" of swing.
Count Basie
Known for his Bronx roots and "doo-wop" influence, this singer warned us all about a girl named "Sue" in 1961.
Dion & The Belmonts
This "Architect of Rock and Roll" delivers a high-octane 1956 performance of his signature hit, complete with his legendary falsetto and piano-pounding energy.
Little Richard
This singer made a duet with her father more than 25 years after his passing
Natalie Cole (Unforgettable)
This trombonist and bandleader was known for his smooth, lyrical playing on his signature theme, "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You."
Tommy Dorsey
This country-pop crossover star had her first major hit in 1957 by describing a late-night stroll "under the starlight.”
Walking After MidnightPatsy Cline
This "Architect of Rock and Roll" delivers a high-octane 1956 performance of his signature hit, complete with his legendary falsetto and piano-pounding energy.
Gordon Lightfoot
Known for his Bronx roots and "doo-wop" influence, this singer warned us all about a girl named "Sue" in 1961
Dion
This virtuoso trumpeter was the very first to sign a 23-year-old Frank Sinatra in 1939. Together they performed a high-energy, swingin' version of the band's hit song "Saturday Night Is the Loneliest Night of the Week" right alongside his former boss's roaring horn section.
Harry James