1957 Music History: Key Events, Band Formations & Album Releases
Acts Formed
Bob & Earl
Los Angeles, California, USA
Soul
Buddy Holly and
The Crickets
Lubbock, Texas, USA
Rock & Roll
Cliff Bennett and
the Rebel Rousers
Slough, Berkshire, England
British Rhythm & Blues
Dion and the
Belmonts
The Bronx, New York, USA
Brill Building
Martha Reeves
& The Vandellas
Detriot, Michigan, USA
Motown
The Bachelors
Dublin, Ireland
Easy Listening
The Chantels
The Bronx, New York, USA
Girl Group
The Fireflies
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Doo Wop
The Kingston Trio
Palo Alto, California, USA
Folk Pop
The Ronettes
Manhattan, New York, USA
Brill Building
The Shirelles
Passaic, New Jersey, USA
Brill Building
January
Nat 'King' Cole and His Trio release After Midnight.
January 16th
The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool. The venue later becomes a centre of British rock and roll, hosting bands such as The Beatles on a regular basis.
February
Anita O'Day releases Pick Yourself Up With Anita O'Day.
February 8th
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show. He is shown from the waist-up, as sponsors object to his swinging hips.
March
Rock & roll and rhythm & blues are banned from all Catholic schools in Chicago after the music is branded as a 'throwback to tribalism' by the Archbishop Samuel Stritch. He also states that the music's rhythms encourage young people to 'behave in a hedonistic manner.'
March 4th
Miles Davis releases 'Round About Midnight.
Little Richard releases Here's Little Richard.
May 26th
The blacklisted singer Paul Robeson, who was prevented from leaving the US because of his alleged Communist sympathies, performs a concert over the telephone to an audience in St. Pancras, London. Over 1,000 people are in attendance.
August 5th
Patsy Cline releases Patsy Cline.
August 7th
John Lennon's band The Quarrymen play at The Cavern Club in Liverpool for the first time. They open their set with 'Don't Be Cruel' by Elvis Presley, much to the owner's chagrin.
September
The forerunner of Stax Records, Satellite Records, is founded in Memphis, Tennessee. The label becomes known for promoting a darker, more organic alternative to Motown.
September 20th
Composer Jean Sibelius dies at 91 from a stroke.
October 14th
Johnny Cash releases Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar!.
November
Thelonious Monk releases Monk's Music.
1957
Chet Baker & Art Pepper release Playboys.
