Every decade has brought its breakout musicians and bands, and that’s one of the things that’s so exciting about studying music history. It’s fun to look back on each decade and see what kind of music that decade gave to the world.
While musical trends come and go, those genres are always with us, even if that style of music has become unpopular. So, each decade holds a special musical place in our hearts.
While every era of music produced a plethora of well-known musical acts, there’s always one big band that really defined that decade. In honor of the music of the past, Audio Ink Radio presents its tally of the most iconic band of each decade from the 1950s to the 1970s. We’ll continue in this series with the 1980s through 2000s later this month.
The Greatest Band of Each Decade
1950s: The Platters
The Platters got together in 1952 and became one of the most celebrated groups of the decade. They’re considered one of the pioneers of early rock ‘n’ roll and brought a Tin Pan Alley sound. The Platters are rarely referred to as inspirations by later rock bands, but whether or not they know it, they did serve as inspirations for the rock that would follow.
Runner up: Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets were one of the earliest rock ‘n’ roll groups, and their song “Rock Around the Clock” is nothing short of legendary and the first No. 1 rock song ever. They could have easily been the top band of the decade, but we picked the Platters just a little above these gents.
1960s: The Beatles
Is there any band bigger than The Beatles? Probably not, but definitely not in the 1960s. The Beatles ruled the ’60s with their melody-driven pop-rock. But, it was difficult to pick a band from the 1960s, because this decade brought so many classic acts, from the Doors to the Beach Boys to the Rolling Stones.
Runner up: The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are really the biggest rock band in the world, but their music is a bit more hard rock, so that’s why we went with the more melodic Beatles for No. 1. But, even with that in mind, there’s no denying that the Rolling Stones’ music is among the most popular ever created. They ruled the 1960s and beyond.
1970s: Led Zeppelin
The 1970s were another decade where we could have gone with several bands, but Led Zeppelin is undoubtedly a good pick for the most iconic band of that decade. Other major groups that broke out in the 1970s included the Who, Queen and Pink Floyd, and any of them could get picked. But, Zeppelin really defined hard rock and created a new genre that’s still popular today.
Runner up: Pink Floyd
It was difficult to pick between Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, because both are so influential. Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” is not only one of the best-selling albums of all time but also one of the most popular and played today. Listening to it never gets old.
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