50's

Singles
Elvis Presley – Hound Dog – 1956
Chuck Berry – Maybelline – 1955
Chuck Berry – Johnny Be Goode – 1958
Jerry Lee Lewis – Great Balls Of Fire – 1958
Little Richard – Tutti Frutti – 1956
Little Richard – Long Tall Sally – 1956
Elvis Presley – That’s All Right – 1954
Buddy Holly – Oh Boy – 1955
Carl Perkins – Blue Suede Shoes – 1956
Elvis Presley – Don’t be Cruel – 1956
Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel – 1956
Bill Haley – Rock Around The Clock - 1952
Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock – 1957
Albums
Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley – 1956
Little Richard – Here’s Little Richard – 1956
Buddy Holly – The Chirping Crickets - 1957
Sources
www.wikipedia.com/Elvis_presley
www.wikipedia.com/buddy_holly
www.wikipedia.com/bill_haley
www.wikipedia.com/little_richardwww.wikipedia.com/rock_n_roll

Motown

The beginning of Motown began in Detroit, America in the late 50’s. The genre was named after Detroit ‘motor city’. Ben Gordy came up with the idea of starting up a record label to make money, however he started by gathering a group of jazz musicians. He chose jazz musicians based of their natural abilities to improvise, read sheet music and just generally pick things up quick. Also at the time lots of cars were being built in Detroit so people wanted jobs and therefore people were willing to work, so he didn’t have to pay the musicians very highly because they were desparate.

During the 60’s and 70’s some of the greatest songs ever written were recorded by the Motown band. ‘Baby love’ by The Supremes, ‘Heard it through the grapevine’ by Marvin Gaye and most of the Jackson 5’s hits are all songs recorded by the motown musicians. The music itself is mainly jazz and blues there is nothing unique about the sound except it’s all the same musicians. Here is an example of 'The Motown Sound',

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajBdDM2qdg

As for influences there wasn’t many because the music was nothing new it was just blues and jazz.

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Sources:- detroit picture: http://www.stadiumtravelguide.com/baseball/images/comericamain.jpg

Motown band picture: http://www.hotpep.com/Hot%20Peppers/Assets/band%20photos/mcm_motown3.jpg

Marvin Gaye-Heard it through the grapevine video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajBdDM2qdg