1950 in music

Sam Phillips started Sun Records in Memphis in 1950. In a few years, Sun Records would be an industry leader. Meanwhile, Patti Page became the only artist to ever score a #1 on the country, rock, and R&B charts at the same time. Nat King Cole had the year’s biggest hit with “Mona Lisa.”

Mona Lisa by Nat King Cole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxEmnxiUz8w

The Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ek3eCbfqp0

Music! Music! Music! By Teresa Brewer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCcV2B8mHa0

Goodnight Irene by Gordon Jenkins and the Weavers:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj3s8qq3kU4

Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy by Red Foley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYl31e_0buQ

Peter Cottontail by Gene Autry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOwGBeCcun4

The Thing by Phil Harris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FdWRsHeV98

Pete Seeger: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1996

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/pete-seeger/bio/

Pete Seeger is an iconic folksinger whose career spans from the 1940s.

In the 50s, he had a hit with the Weavers with a Leadbelly cover:

Goodnight Irene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj3s8qq3kU4

The band got blacklisted during the McCarthy era, but Seeger reemerged in the sixties.

He scored hits as a songwriter:

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y2SIIeqy34

Turn! Turn! Turn! (The Byrds)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6jxxagVEO4

He also popularized We Shall Overcome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNYeqe3LewE

Seeger was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement.

In recent years, he played the Obama Inaugural.