The
British Invasion is a term referring to the popularization of large number of performers from the United Kingdom with genres of music such as
Rock n' Roll,
beat, and
Pop, from 1964 - 1966. Such bands and performers considered to be apart of the British Invasion of the 1960s include, but are not limited to, -
The Beatles,
Dusty Springfield,
the Rolling Stones,
the Kinks, and
the Who.
The music genres of Rock n' Roll, and Blues were popular in America for many years before the British Invasion.
The musical genres of Blues and Rock n' Roll were considered to be styles more reserved to African American performers like Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Little Richard,and Muddy Waters. Their albums were known as "
Race Records" to many American's of that time period. It was considered wrong by many White American parents to find their children listening to these race records because they were performed by African American musicians, but teenagers enjoyed the new, and different styles found on the records.
Record producers and talent searchers knew they would make millions if they were able to find a White artist who could replicate the styles of music found on these race records like Rock N' Roll and Blues. One of America's first versions of this artist was
Elvis Presley. Elvis was largely popular among the American youth but little did Americans know that the sounds of the race records were also being listened to and duplicated by the youth of the United Kingdom.
The sound and rebellious stlye associated with the genre of Rock N' Roll became wideley popular in the youth of the United Kingdom in the late 1950's. The combination of the sounds of the music styles known as Blues and Rock N' Roll became very popular in Liverpool, and it soon became know as "
Beat Music".
One of the most populars performers of beat music was
The Beatles. The Beatles were a band of citizens of the United Kingdom, who in their early twenties, quickly became popular for the new style of music, and their unique appearance, in Europe, as well as America.
The movement of the styles of music such as Rock n' Roll and Blues from being seemingly reserved to African Americans and then spreading to White artists of the United Kingdom and their combination of the two genres into beat music, was reported on by John Heenehan in the
Hartford Courant. On March 8, 1980, Mr. Heenehan did a report on the British Invasion, titled:
The Beat Goes on for Rock and Roll, But It Won't Be the Same. In his article Heenehan interviewed
Norman N. Nite, author of the book "Thirty Years of Rock n' Roll".
In the article Nite said that in the 1950s "Popular music at the time was being performed by such artists as Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett". But, " By 1963, the Beatles were recording hits in England, but not until they came to the United States a year later with 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' did 'they take the world by storm,' Nite said. "This was the beginning of the 'British Invasion' that included the Who, the Rolling Stones, and many more" said Norman Nite.
The introduction of The Beatles to America is known as
Beatlemania. On December 17, 1963, The Beatles were first introduced to America with their first ever American airing song, "I Want to Hold Your Hand". The first ever introduction of a Beatles' song began the British Invasion, and Beatlemania; along with a change in the appearance, thoughts, and styles of a large portion of the American youth.
Sources:Photo 1:
The BeatlesPhoto 2:
The WhoPhoto 3:
The Rolling StonesPhoto 4:
Elvis Presley PhotoPhoto 5:
Fans Attempting to Meet The BeatlesPhoto 6:
I Am a Beatle Fan!Photo 7:
BEATLEMANIA!Video -
The beginning of Beatlemania: I Want to Hold Your Hand
The Supremes shook the world of Motown when they made their debut in the 1960’s. These three African-American women started as three high school girls, and became superstars over the decade. One in particular, Diana Ross, found greater fame after the group broke up. 
Like all groups that form, they broke up eventually. After Diana Ross became the leading lady of the group, the other two members felt pushed aside and spiraled into a depression. The name of the group even changed. Since Ross became the center of the group, they became “The Supremes with Diana Ross.” Eventually, Diana Ross would create her own career during the 1970’s.
