British Popular Culture at the Beginning of the Nineteen-Sixties

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British Popular Culture at the Beginning of the Nineteen-Sixties

The beginning of the 60s is what is said to be the low point in pop

history. The excitement of rock 'n' roll was dying down, Buddy Holly

had recently died and Elvis had joined the army. The newest releases

of pop had turned cleaner cut and the songs were more melodic and

innocent. If you wanted to learn more about British Popular Culture

you would have to learn American Popular Culture for many British

stars were influenced and dominated by the U.S. Though Radio,

Television and Theatre were Britain starting to become more unique and

distinctive.

Music in the early 60s was heavily influenced by American singers.

Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Bill Fury and Adam Faith (rival to

Cliff Richard in the late 1950s and early 60s) were all following the

steps of Elvis Presley. Roy Orbison, Brenda Lee and Ricky Vallance

were all American Stars. Many of these singers started off as soloists

and later joined bands.

Original styles of music creation and performances (also known as

Skiffle bands) dominated the United Kingdom until the late 1950s.

Lonnie Donegan was the first person to contribute this style of music.

The roots of British popular music for the rest of the 20th century

and into the next were set during the 1950s. An army of American

musical leaders, including Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, were

adapting African American rock and roll for mainstream audiences, and

American folk bands like The Weavers were supplying a revival of old

time music.

The glamour of Hollywood was over for both America and Britain in the

early 1960s, this was before the hype about The Bond Movies came about

and there was nothing special about in the film industry for anyone to

get excited about. Some British Movies that were out includes Lawrence

of Arabia starring Peter O'Toole and Alec Guinness, The Carry On

Films, View from the Top and the first ever Bond Movie produced in

1962 called Dr. No starring Sean Connery.

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