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1956-59
This history starts with the creation of the British album chart in July 1956. Frank Sinatra's Songs for swinging lovers being the first number one.
It was the second half of the decade that saw the start of a gradual decline for the crooners such as Sinatra, Perry Como and Bing Crosby. They were replaced by, not one, but two phenomena - the musical soundtrack and Rock 'n' Roll. In truth it was musicals that dominated the period as far as albums were concerned. South Pacific, The King And I, Carousel, My Fair Lady, Gigi and Oklahoma were most prominent.
Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and a young Brit breaking through - Cliff Richard.
In Detroit, another musical giant was about to hatch. A young songwriter, who had supplied hits for Jackie Wilson, borrowed $800 from his family in late 1958. By January 1959, Berry Gordy had founded Motown Records at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
Marv Johnson's Come To Me was the first release for a label that would become Hitsville USA.
It was a time of political turmoil abroad - the Hungarian uprising, the rise of Castro in Cuba and the Suez crisis.
The cinema lost both heroes and villains with deaths of Bela Lugosi, Humphrey Bogart, Oliver Hardy, Cecil B. DeMille. It also produced classic films - Bridge Over The River Kwai, Reach For The Sky, High Society, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and more.
Sportsmen wore baggy shorts, spectators flat caps or hats and heroes came in all shapes and sizes. Above all else, there was the music.
