Rock and roll did not emerge from nowhere.
It developed from a mixture of musical traditions, including blues, country, gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, and earlier forms of popular music.
Artists such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Elvis Presley helped bring those influences into a new mainstream sound.
At the same time, singers such as Frank Sinatra and vocal groups such as The Chordettes and The Platters continued to attract enormous audiences.
The result was a fascinating musical crossroads.
Different generations were listening to different things.
Some families still gathered around the radio for traditional pop.
Teenagers rushed to buy the latest rock-and-roll record.
Children sang songs inspired by television characters.
Couples danced to romantic ballads.
And record stores became increasingly important gathering places for young consumers.
## Music and the Birth of Teen Culture
One of the biggest changes taking place in 1955 was the growing economic and cultural importance of teenagers.
