Y
1954
1954 in British Music
Rock and roll stirs across the Atlantic as British teens begin to find their own voice.
Key Events
- •Bill Haley's 'Rock Around the Clock' released — initially flops, will become seismic
- •Doris Day and Frank Sinatra dominate the British airwaves
- •John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time at a Woolton church fete
Dominant Genres
Traditional PopJazzCountryEarly Rock
Notable Trends
- →The 78 rpm shellac disc begins giving way to 45 rpm vinyl
- →American imports start appealing to younger listeners
- →BBC Light Programme remains gatekeeper of British taste