Best Songs of the 50's

The 50's were known for the coexistence of Jazz and Rock and Roll style music. The birth of Rock and Roll was in the mid-50's. Until then the big bands and Jazz style music were most prominent. Vocal artists were also prominent in the 50's with artists such as Dean Martin, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Pat Boone.

Rock and Roll music started in the mid-50's and became mainstream with artists such as Bill Haley & His Comets and Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley became the image of 50's rock and roll given the title of "The King of Rock and Roll". Elvis created many hubbubs after pelvis gyrations on TV shows Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. Country and western also grew in popularity with such artists as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Porter Wagoner. Carl Perkins fueled a new version of country and western and r&b combined called rockabilly.  Hank Williams also helped to popularize Honky Tonk, a style of country music characterized by a style of piano playing emphasizing rhythm more than harmony.  It is interesting to note the "tonk" in the word Honky Tonk was taken from a manufacturer of an upright piano.

The 1950's era was the start of color TV and the credit card system in the USA.  Although color televisions were being introduced, most shows were seen in the afternoon and evenings in black and white.  Popular TV shows included I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, and The Twilight Zone.  Segregation was also made illegal.  Space travel became a reality with the Russian Sputnik 1.  America also grew by 2 states with the addition of Hawaii and Alaska.  Hot fashion trends included men's bomber jackets, bermuda shorts and nipped waist for women. In the early 1950's, there was a major advancement in medicine with the creation of a vaccine to prevent polio. 

Being former wedding DJs, we've calculated a list of our favorite Songs of the 50's. If you have a special song that you think should be added to our list, please add your song suggestion through the comment section below. Be sure to also check out the song lyric link to find song relevance to what you want for in your song choice. Once decided, we provided a link to iTunes to purchase and Amazon.com to purchase and listen to a sample of each song.  Pop culture personalities included James Dean, Mickey Mantle, of the New York Yankees, and Marilyn Monroe.

Our Top 5 50's Era songs for weddings are as follows: 1) Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets, 2) Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire, 3) Hank Williams - Hey Good Lookin', 4) Elvis Presley - Hound Dog, 5) Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes

Best Songs of the 50's for Weddings

Song	Artist	Format	Lyrics
16 Candles	The Crests	R&B
All I Have To Do Is Dream	Everly Brothers	Rock
All Shook Up	Elvis Presley	Rock
All The Way	Frank Sinatra	Pop
April Love	Pat Boone	Rock
At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)	El Dorados	R&B
At The Hop	Danny & the Juniors	R&B
Autumn Leaves	Roger Williams	New Age	- -
Banana Boat Song	Harry Belafonte	Reggae
Be-Bop-A-Lula	Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps	Rock
Blue Moon	The Marcels	R&B
Blue Suede Shoes	Carl Perkins	Country
Blueberry Hill	Fats Domino	Blues
Bo Diddley	Bo Diddley	Blues
Book Of Love	The Monotones	Rock
Chances Are	Johnny Mathis	Pop
Chantilly Lace	Big Bopper	Rock
Charlie Brown	The Coasters	R&B
Come Go With Me	The Del-Vikings	Rock
Come Softly To Me	The Fleetwoods	Rock
Dance With Me	The Drifters	Pop
Diana	Paul Anka	Pop
Do You Want To Dance	Bobby Freeman	Rock
Don't Be Cruel	Elvis Presley	Rock
Earth Angel	The Penguins	Rock
Fever	Little Willie John	R&B
For Your Precious Love	Jerry Butler & the Impressions	R&B
Gee	The Crows	R&B
Good Golly, Miss Molly	Little Richard	Rock
Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight	The Spaniels	R&B
Great Balls Of Fire	Jerry Lee Lewis	Rock
Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes	Chuck Willis	R&B
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands	Laurie London	Pop
Hey Good Lookin'	Hank Williams	Country
Honky Tonk, Part 1	Bill Doggett	R&B	- -
Hound Dog	Elvis Presley	Rock
I Only Have Eyes For You	The Flamingos	Pop
I Walk The Line	Johnny Cash	Country
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You	Elvis Presley	Rock
I'm In Love Again	Fats Domino	Blues
In The Still of The Night	Five Satins	R&B
It's All in The Game	Tommy Edwards	R&B
I've Got A Woman	Ray Charles	R&B
Jailhouse Rock	Elvis Presley	Oldies
Jambalaya (On The Bayou)	Hank Williams	Country
Jim Dandy	Lavern Baker	R&B
Johnny B Goode	Chuck Berry	Oldies
Kansas City	Wilbert Harrison	R&B
Keep A Knockin'	Little Richard	R&B
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine	Jimmie Rogers	Country
La Bamba	Ritchie Valens	Oldies
Let The Good Times Roll	Shirley & Lee	R&B
Little Bitty Pretty One	Thurston Harris	R&B
Little Darlin'	The Diamonds	R&B
Little Star	The Elegants	Rock
Lollipop	The Chordettes	Rock
Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing	Four Aces	Vocal
Love Is Strange	Mickey & Sylvia	R&B
Love Me Tender	Elvis Presley	Oldies
Love Potion No. 9	The Clovers	Rock
Mack The Knife	Bobby Darin	Oldies
Memories Are Made Of This	Dean Martin	Oldies
Money (That's What I Want)	Barrett Strong	R&B
My Special Angel	Bobby Helms	Country
Only You	The Platters	Oldies
Party Doll	Buddy Knox	Rock
Peggy Sue	Buddy Holly & the Crickets	Rock
Pledging My Love	Johnny Ace	R&B
Put Your Head On My Shoulder	Paul Anka	Pop
Rave On	Buddy Holly & the Crickets	Rock
Rebel Rouser	Duane Eddy	Oldies	- -
Rock and Roll is Here To Stay	Danny & the Juniors	Rock
Rock And Roll Music	Chuck Berry	Rock
Rock Around The Clock	Bill Haley	Oldies
Rockin' Robin	Bobby Day	Oldies
Rocking Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu	Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns	R&B
Roll Over Beethoven	Chuck Berry	Rock
Sea Cruise	Frankie Ford	Rock
Sea Of Love	Phil Phillips	Rock
Searchin'	The Coasters	R&B
Sh-Boom	The Chords	R&B
Shout	The Isley Brothers	Oldies
Sincerely	Moonglows	R&B
Sleep Walk	Santo and Johnny	Instrumental	- -
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes	Platters	Oldies
Splish Splash	Bobby Darin	Rock
Summertime Blues	Eddie Cochran	Oldies
Susie Q	Dale Hawkins	Rock
Tammy	Debbie Reynolds	Pop
Tequila	Champs	Oldies	- -
That'll Be The Day	Buddy Holly & The Crickets	Oldies
The ABC's Of Love	Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers	Pop
The Stroll	The Diamonds	Oldies
To Know Him is To Love Him	Teddy Bears	Rock
Tutti Frutti	Little Richard	R&B
Tweedlee Dee	LaVern Baker	R&B
Venus	Frankie Avalon	Rock
What'd I Say	Ray Charles	R&B
Whole Lot Of Shakin' Goin On	Jerry Lee Lewis	Rock
Willie & The Hand Jive	Johnny Otis	Oldies
You Send Me	Sam Cooke	R&B
Young Love	Sonny James	Rock

Best 50s songs list is updated periodically throughout the year. If you have a song that you think should be included, please add your song suggestion through the comment section below.