The early '60s marked the remnants of '50s "doo-wop" and other familiar vocal formats. Some in the press had even commented "Rock-'n'-Roll is Dead!" Folk music began to take off. So did Cha-cha-cha and Twist music. Of course, the older stuff was still around too: Sinatra, Big Band, etc. It did seem like the fad (Rock-'n'-Roll) was giving way to the standards and to the new fads. However, a rock-'n'-roll storm was brewing below the surface.
The Europeans, especially the British, were experimenting with new sounds and variations on Rock and Blues themes. The Beatles had created a new sound, referred to by some as the Mersey Beat. It was taking off in Europe. By the mid '60s the new British Rock was heading "across the pond" to America. The US had to play catch-up and create new sounds both in Rock and in Rhythm-and-Blues (R&B) to compete with the Brits. |
While the British Rock bands, especially the Rolling Stones and the Beatles continued to dominate many charts in Europe AND the US, American Rock and R&B (also called Soul) were rapidly evolving and holding their own by the end of the decade. Another genre emerged called Bubble Gum Pop, which targeted mostly pre-teens with groups such as 1910 Fruitgum Company and The Archies, as well as a slew of "one-hit wonder" music groups.
From 1966 to 1969, the US produced some of the greatest Pop musicians in the world. Such groups as the Jim Morrison and the Doors, The Temptations, The Supremes, etc., and such artists as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Smokey Robinson |
Hippies
In the 1960s there was the start of many fashion trends we use today. Such as the "hippie look", hippies are often known as the rebels of society. They go against middle-class values and embraced love and peace. The women often wore long flowing skirts, tied dyed shirts, wore flowers in their hair; people decribed there look as a free look . Nothing they wore held them back. They wore lots of beaded jewlery and headbands.
Fashion, the 1960's began with crew cuts on men and bouffant hairstyles on women. Men's casual shirts were often plaid and buttoned down the front, while knee-length dresses were required wear for women in most public places. By mid-decade though, miniskirts or hot pants, often worn with go-go boots, were revealing legs, bodywear was revealing curves, and women's hair was either very short or long and lanky. Men's hair became longer and wider along with beards and moustaches. Menswear too had a much needed renaissance; bright colors, double-breasted sports jackets, polyester pants suits with Nehru jackets, and turtlenecks were in vogue.
By 1964 the teenage influence caused the hemlines to creep up, and most teenagers were wearing mid-thigh length shifts as daywear. The sweater-dress was also very popular with young girls from 1961 onwards, until the mid-60s when other innovative designs were introduced. 1965 saw the premiere of culotte dresses in op-art or vibrant coloured patters (think Peter Max or Pucci) and these were most popular as evening or party wear; culottes had the freedom of trousers but the look of a full skirt. 1966’s dress was the tent, or "baby doll dress", sometimes in transparent chiffon, worn over a contrasting slip, and often sewn-in.
By 1964 the teenage influence caused the hemlines to creep up, and most teenagers were wearing mid-thigh length shifts as daywear. The sweater-dress was also very popular with young girls from 1961 onwards, until the mid-60s when other innovative designs were introduced. 1965 saw the premiere of culotte dresses in op-art or vibrant coloured patters (think Peter Max or Pucci) and these were most popular as evening or party wear; culottes had the freedom of trousers but the look of a full skirt. 1966’s dress was the tent, or "baby doll dress", sometimes in transparent chiffon, worn over a contrasting slip, and often sewn-in.