1957
Sun Records releases "Flyin' Saucer Rock & Roll" by Billy Lee Riley and his Little Green Men. This rockabilly classic features Jerry Lee Lewis on piano. (more)
Billy Lee Riley
Graceland
Mar '57
Mar '57
Elvis purchases the Graceland mansion in Memphis, in part to provide more security and to avoid neighbors complaints about his fans. (more)
Eddie Cochran hits the charts for the first time with "Sittin' in the Balcony" on Liberty Records.
(more)
Alan Freeds new televison show, The Big Beat on ABC, is cancelled after complaints about black teenage singer Frankie Lymon being shown dancing with a white girl. (more)
The Big Beat
Little Richart
Apr '57
Little Richard rips up the charts with four hit singles concurrently on both the Pop and R&B charts. (more)   (video) 
Jul '57
Sun Records artist Jerry Lee Lewis causes a stir on the Steve Allen TV show when he kicks over his piano stool during a performance of "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On"
(more)  (video)
The Everly Brothers hit #2 on the Pop Charts with "Bye, Bye Love" on Cadence Records.(more)   (video)
Everly Brothers
Jailhouse Rock
Sep '57
Elvis releases the single "Jailhouse Rock" to coincide with the release of the movie of the same name. The song would reach #1 in both the US and UK. (more)  (video) 
Aug '57
American Bandstand
The television show American Bandstand is syndicated nationally where it would run for the next 32 years. (more)  (video)
Sep '57
Buddy Holly's and the Crickets have a #1 hit with "That'll Be The Day". They follow with two more top ten hits, "Peggy Sue" and "Oh Boy" (more)  (video)
Sep '57
The 1957 Biggest Show of Stars tour starts in Sep. and covers 78 cities. Artists include Fats Domino, LaVern Baker, Frankie Lymon, Chuck Berry, Clyde McPhatter, The Crickets, the Everly Brothers  and more.
The Everly Brothers
Oct '57
The Everly Brothers top the charts with "Wake Up Little Susie" (more)   (video)
Sam Cooke
Nov '57
Sam Cooke hits #1 with "You Send Me"  his first single for Keen Records. (more)   (video)   
Dec '57
"Great Balls of Fire" hits #1 on Country Charts, #2 Pop and #3 R&B for Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records. (more) (video)
Jul '57
-  R o c k  M u s i c  T i m e l i n e  -
1957
1957
-  R o c k  M u s i c  T i m e l i n e  -
1957
1957
On This Page In
Rock and Roll History
1957:

Billy Lee Riley
Eddie Cochran
Elvis Presley - Graceland
Alan Freed - The Big Beat
Little Richard
Buddy Knox
Dale Hawkins
The Everly Brothers
Jerry Lee Lewis
American Bandstand
Bill Justis - Raunchy
Paul Anka - Diana
Biggest Show of Stars Tour
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
Chuck Berry
Elvis Presley -
Jailhouse Rock
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Sam Cooke
The Everly Brothers -
Wake Up Little Susie
Jerry Lee Lewis -
Great Balls of Fire
Warren Smith

US #1 Hits of 1957
UK #1 Hits of 1957
Sample the Music
From 1957
Press Play To Hear It !
"Rock and roll is phony and false, and it's sung, written, and played for the most part by cretinous goons."   -  Frank Sinatra
Apr '57
May '57
Buddy Knox of Happy, TX
scores a #1 with "Party Doll" produced by Norman Petty and released on Roulette. (more)
Dale Hawkins of Shreveport, LA takes his song Susie Q into the top thirty on Chess Records. (more)
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Aug '57
Positioned as a teen idol, Canadian singer Paul Anka rockets to #1 with his own composition "Diana".
  (more) 
Aug '57
Bill Justis records the song "Raunchy" at Sun Studios in Memphis. The single goes to #2 and is the first rock instrumental hit.
(more)
Sep '57
After leaving the Dominoes, Jackie Wilson releases his first solo single "Reet Petite" which charts at #62 US, but goes all the way to #11 in the UK.
(more)
Dec '57
Sun Records artist, Warren Smith, has rockabilly success with the single "So Long, I'm Gone" which climbs to #74 nationally.
(more)
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Sep '57
Chuck Berry is back in the top ten at #8 with the single "Rock and Roll Music".
  (more)
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