This course covers the first ten years of rock and roll, the explosive musical phenomenon that shook the world during the mid‐1950s to the early 1960s. It spans the ascendance of pioneers like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard to the harmonizing vocal groups, surf, soul, and girl groups of the early ’60s. It features greats like the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Ray Charles, and the Beach Boys, with plenty of rare film clips of the heroes in action. It also celebrates those who helped it flourish: from legendary independent record labels like Sun and Atlantic, to the producers, disk jockeys, songwriters, and exuberant teenage audience that helped make it happen.