For music from a year in the 1950s, go to 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59
This is a partial list of notable active and inactive bands and musicians of the 1950s.
Musicians
Black Ace Johnny Ace Lee Allen Gene Allison Marian Anderson Pink Anderson Paul Anka Louis Armstrong Eddy Arnold Chet Atkins Gene Autry Frankie Avalon Charles Aznavour LaVern Baker Hank Ballard Sidney Bechet Harry Belafonte Jesse Belvin Tex Beneke Boyd Bennett Tony Bennett Chuck Berry Richard Berry Otis Blackwell Scrapper Blackwell Blind Blake The Big Bopper Johnny Bond Pat Boone Jimmy Bowen Calvin Boze Jackie Brenston Teresa Brewer Big Bill Broonzy Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown James Brown Nappy Brown Roy Brown Ruth Brown Dave Brubeck Jimmy Bryant Solomon Burke Johnny Burnette James Burton Erskine Butterfield Sam Butera Maria Callas Glen Campbell Martha Carson Goree Carter Johnny Cash Bobby Charles Ray Charles Boozoo Chavis Chubby Checker Clifton Chenier Lou Christie June Christy Eugene Church Joe Clay Dee Clark Patsy Cline Rosemary Clooney Eddie Cochran Nat "King" Cole John Coltrane Perry Como Floyd Council Pee Wee Crayton Mac Curtis Bing Crosby Bob Crosby Gary Crosby Arthur Crudup Dick Dale Dick Dale (singer) Dalida Bobby Darin Hal David Miles Davis Sammy Davis Jr. Bobby Day Doris Day Bo Diddley Willie Dixon Carl Dobkins Jr. Bill Doggett Fats Domino Lonnie Donegan Jimmy Dorsey Lee Dorsey Tommy Dorsey K. C. Douglas Rusty Draper Champion Jack Dupree Jimmy Durante Leroy Van Dyke Werly Fairburn H-Bomb Ferguson Eddie Fisher Miss Toni Fisher Sonny Fisher Ella Fitzgerald Connie Francis Ernie Freeman Mary Ford Tennessee Ernie Ford Helen Forrest Alan Freed Johnny Fuller Billy Fury Earl Gaines Hank Garland Judy Garland Clarence Garlow Georgia Gibbs Dizzy Gillespie Dick Glasser Arthur Godfrey Benny Goodman Eydie Gormé Charlie Gracie Gogi Grant Jack Guthrie Roy Hamilton Lionel Hampton Pat Hare Slim Harpo Homer Harris Peppermint Harris Wynonie Harris Hawkshaw Hawkins Screamin' Jay Hawkins Al Hibbler Chuck Higgins Earl Hines Silas Hogan Smokey Hogg Ron Holden Billie Holiday Buddy Holly John Lee Hooker Lightnin' Hopkins Johnny Horton David Houston Eddy Howard Ivory Joe Hunter Bull Moose Jackson Mahalia Jackson Elmore James Etta James Harry James Homesick James Joni James Sonny James Waylon Jennings Dr. John Little Willie John Jimmy Jones Louis Jordan Don Julian Kitty Kallen Chris Kenner Anita Kerr Albert King B.B. King Ben E. King Earl King Freddie King Pee Wee King Saunders King Christine Kittrell Baker Knight Sonny Knight Buddy Knox Gene Krupa Frankie Laine Major Lance Mario Lanza Ellis Larkins Brenda Lee Dickie Lee Peggy Lee Lazy Lester Jerry Lee Lewis Smiley Lewis Little Willie Littlefield Julie London Joe Hill Louis Willie Love Frankie Lymon Loretta Lynn Dean Martin Grady Martin Janis Martin Johnny Mathis Jimmy McCracklin Skeets McDonald Big Jay McNeely Clyde McPhatter Max Merritt Big Maceo Merriweather Amos Milburn Chuck Miller Mitch Miller Roy Milton Garnet Mimms Bobby Mitchell Guy Mitchell Charles Mingus Thelonious Monk Bill Monroe Vaughn Monroe Wes Montgomery Benny Moré Rose Murphy Jimmy Nelson Ricky Nelson Robert Nighthawk Jimmy Nolen Nervous Norvus Donald O'Conner St. Louis Jimmy Oden Odetta Gene O'Quin Roy Orbison Johnny Otis Patti Page Charlie Parker Les Paul Art Pepper Carl Perkins Oscar Peterson Phil Phillips Webb Pierce Gene Pitney Pérez Prado Elvis Presley Johnny Preston Jimmy Preston Lloyd Price Louis Prima Johnnie Ray Tampa Red Jerry Reed Jimmy Reed Della Reese Django Reinhardt Buddy Rich Cliff Richard Little Richard Tommy Ridgley Billy Lee Riley Tex Ritter Johnny Rivers Max Roach Marty Robbins Jimmie Rodgers Arsenio Rodríguez Kenny Rogers Bobby Rydell Kyu Sakamoto Washboard Sam Tommy Sands Mabel Scott Neil Sedaka Pete Seeger Johnny Shines Troy Shondell Dinah Shore Frank Sinatra Memphis Slim Sunnyland Slim Huey "Piano" Smith Ray Smith Jo Stafford Kay Starr Tommy Steele Joan Sutherland Art Tatum Jesse Thomas Rufus Thomas Hank Thompson Big Mama Thornton Johnny Tillotson Merle Travis Big Joe Turner Ike Turner Ritchie Valens Bobby Vee Gene Vincent T-Bone Walker Little Walter Mercy Dee Walton Baby Boy Warren Muddy Waters Johnny "Guitar" Watson Joe Weaver Ben Webster
Bands
Jay & The Americans The Ames Brothers The Andrews Sisters Dave Appell & the Applejacks Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes The Bell Notes Bill Haley & His Comets The Belmonts Dion & The Belmonts The Bobbettes The Bonnie Sisters The Bosstones The Buchanan Brothers The Cadets The Cadillacs The Capris The Cardinals The Champs The Chantels The Charioteers Otis Williams and the Charms The Chimes The Chi-Lites The Chips The Chordettes The Chords The Cleftones The Clovers The Coasters The Collegians Bill Haley and the Comets The Corsairs The Counts The Crew Cuts The Crescendos The Crickets The Crows Danny & the Juniors Jan & Dean The Dells The Del-Satins The Delta Rhythm Boys The Del-Vikings Deep River Boys The Dovells The Dubs The Duprees The Diamonds The Drifters The Earls The Echoes The Edsels The El Dorados The Elegants The Emotions The Escorts The Everly Brothers The Fairfield Four The Falcons The Flamingos The Flairs The Fleetwoods The Five Satins The Five Discs The Five Keys The Five Sharps The Fontane Sisters The Four Aces The Four Buddies The Four Freshmen The Four Knights The Four Lads The Four Lovers The Four Preps The Four Tops The Four Tunes The Gaylords The G-Clefs The Golden Gate Quartet The Harptones The Hearts The Heathertones The Hilltoppers The Hollywood Flames Johnny & The Hurricanes The Impalas Little Anthony and the Imperials The Impressions The Ink Spots The Isley Brothers The Jewels The Jesters The Jive Bombers The Jive Five Don & Juan The Jubalaires The Kingston Trio Kings of Rhythm The Larks The Lettermen Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers The McGuire Sisters The Medallions The Mello-Kings The Mello-Moods The Mills Brothers The Midnighters The Monotones The Moonglows The Mystics The Nutmegs The O'Jays The Oak Ridge Boys The Orioles The Osmonds The Paragons The Penguins The Pied Pipers The Platters The Pony-Tails The Quarrymen The Quotations Randy & The Rainbows The Rattlesnakes (1955 band) The Ravens The Regents The Righteous Brothers Norman Fox & The Rob-Roys The Robins The Sensations The Shadows The Shepherd Sisters The Skyliners The Solitaires Sons of The Pioneers The Spaniels The Sparkletones The Spiders The Spinners Joey Dee & The Starliters The Stereos The Swallows Mickey & Sylvia Tátrai Quartet Tavares The Teenagers The Teen Queens The Tornados The Turbans The Tymes The Valentines The Virtues The Volumes Billy Ward & The Dominoes The Wrens Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs Windsbacher Knabenchor
Gallery
See also
Music history of the United States in the 1950s 1950s in music 1960s in music 1940s in music Timeline of musical events
References
External links Essential American Recordings Survey