Listen to Peggy Lee's "Fever":

American musician Peggy Lee (1920-2002) had a long career as a jazz singer, songwriter, and actress.  After getting her start on local radio stations in North Dakota, she moved to California at age 17 in hopes of beginning a singing career.  Her big break came as a singer in Benny Goodman’s big band.  Lee had a number of No. 1 records, one of the most well known being Fever, which was nominated for Record of the Year at the 1st Annual Grammy Awards in 1959. 

Lee enjoyed a long recording career, and managed to remain popular and relevant over the years and as styles changed. 

Listen to Frank Sinatra's "My Way":

 One of the most iconic figures in pop culture from the 20th century is American singer and actor Frank Sinatra (1915-1998).  Nicknamed “Ol’ Blue Eyes”, Sinatra is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time.  A New Jersey native, Sinatra developed his signature sound during the swing era of the 1940’s, singing with the big band of Tommy Dorsey.  Sinatra’s fame grew as he appeared in many successful movies, including an Academy-Award winning turn in the film From Here to Eternity.  Some of Sinatra’s famous films include starring roles in The Manchurian Candidate, Guys and Dolls, and Ocean’s 11.

Sinatra is often associated with a group of other entertainers who gained fame during the late 50’s and 60’s known as “The Rat Pack.”  While they often performed together in concert and in films, each man was famous in his own right.  The group of popular performers was often associated with the Las Vegas casino scene of the late 1950’s and included Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop.  Legend has it that the group earned its name after a night of partying in Hollywood:  Actress Lauren Bacall coined the phrase, commenting that they “looked like a pack of rats” after their night out on the town. 

Listen to Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock":

Nicknamed the “King of Rock and Roll,” American singer Elvis Presley (1935-1977) is one of the most recognizable figures in music from the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and grew up in Memphis surrounded by blues, rhythm-and-blues, and gospel music.  While he did not invent rock and roll music, Presley is credited with helping to popularize the new style among a wider audience.  His good looks and “All-American” personality helped him gain popularity as a movie star as well as a recording artist.  An appearance on TV’s “The Ed Sullivan Show” caused controversy at the time due to his signature hip-swiveling dance styles.

  Presley is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, selling over 600 million records worldwide.  Some of his most well-known songs include “Love me Tender,” “Don’t be Cruel,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and “Jailhouse Rock,” in which you can hear his signature “crooning” style here. 

Other pioneers of early Rock-and-Roll during the 1950’s include Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Jerry Lee Lewis.  Later, British rock groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones helped popularize the genre in America, along with guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and American bands such as The Doors.