Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff found Philadelphia International to produce soul records with orchestral arrangements.Stax begins to produce soul records in Memphis.The Tokens' The Lion Sleeps Tonight uses operatic singing, Neapolitan choir, yodel, proto-electronics.July: The magazine 'Mersey Beat' is founded in Liverpool.Howling Wolf cuts the Rocking Chair album, the masterpiece of rhythm'n'blues.British bluesman Alexis Korner forms the Blues Incorporated, with a rotating cast that will include Charlie Watts, John Surman, John McLaughlin, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richard, Eric Burdon, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, etc.Bob Dylan arrives at New York's Greenwich Village.Dick Dale uses the term 'surfing' to describe his instrumental rock and roll ⇐.Russ Solomon opens the first Tower Records in Sacramento (California), the first music megastore.The movie-jukebox 'Scopitone' is invented in France (a refinement of the Panoram).The word 'reggae' is coined in Jamaica to identify a 'ragged' style of dance music, with its roots in New Orleans rhythm and blues ⇐.The British producer Joe Meek uses the recording studio like an instrument for the space opera I Hear a New World.The Shirelles' Will You Love Me Tomorrow coins a form of romantic multi-part vocal harmonies.Larry Parnes, Britain's most famous impresario, arranges a show for the Silver Beetles in Liverpool.Twist is the biggest dance-craze in the year of the dance-crazes.To understand how I justify these opinions you have to read my book 'A History of Rock Music'. These, of course, are my personal opinions on when genres where invented, who invented them, and which were the most significant events. Legend: Avantgarde | Music industry | Instruments | Media | Necrology | Exotic Main music page | History of rock music | Best albums of all time | Bibliography A Chronology of Rock Music - The 1960s Excerpted from my book 'A History of Rock and Dance Music'

First rock opera