Top 5 New Rock Music Artists of Each Year - 1946-1959
Criteria: Here are the top 5 new rock artists of each year. In order to qualify in a given year the artist has to have had his first ever release in that year (single, EP or album). The artists were ranked based upon initial popularity, lasting popularity, impact and influence of ONLY their records that were released in that calendar year.
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1946
1. Ravens
2. Jack McVea
3. Lowell Fulson
4. Amos Milburn
5. Sonny Thompson
2. Jack McVea
3. Lowell Fulson
4. Amos Milburn
5. Sonny Thompson
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1947
1. Roy Brown
2. Paul Gayten
3. Sticks McGhee
4. Big Three Trio
5. Smiley Lewis
2. Paul Gayten
3. Sticks McGhee
4. Big Three Trio
5. Smiley Lewis
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1948
1. Orioles
2. Big Jay McNeely
3. Ray-O-Vacs
4. Dave Bartholomew
5. Mabel Smith (Big Maybelle)
2. Big Jay McNeely
3. Ray-O-Vacs
4. Dave Bartholomew
5. Mabel Smith (Big Maybelle)
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1949
1. Larry Darnell
2. Ruth Brown
3. Professor Longhair
4. Robins
5. Jewel King
2. Ruth Brown
3. Professor Longhair
4. Robins
5. Jewel King
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1950
1. Fats Domino
2. Dominoes
3. Four Buddies
4. Griffin Brothers
5. Archibald
2. Dominoes
3. Four Buddies
4. Griffin Brothers
5. Archibald
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1951
1. Jackie Brenston
2. Five Keys
3. Rosco Gordon
4. Swallows
5. Cardinals
2. Five Keys
3. Rosco Gordon
4. Swallows
5. Cardinals
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1952
1. Lloyd Price
2. Johnny Ace
3. Lula Reed
4. Shirley & Lee
5. Royals
2. Johnny Ace
3. Lula Reed
4. Shirley & Lee
5. Royals
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1953
1. Faye Adams
2. Drifters
3. Crows
4. Spiders
5. Spaniels
2. Drifters
3. Crows
4. Spiders
5. Spaniels
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1954
1. Penguins
2. Roy Hamilton
3. Elvis Presley
4. Chords
5. Diablos
2. Roy Hamilton
3. Elvis Presley
4. Chords
5. Diablos
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1955
1. Chuck Berry
2. Bo Diddley
3. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
4. Etta James
5. Nutmegs
2. Bo Diddley
3. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
4. Etta James
5. Nutmegs
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1956
1. Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps
2. Five Satins
3. Del-Vikings
4. James Brown and the Famous Flames
5. Coasters
2. Five Satins
3. Del-Vikings
4. James Brown and the Famous Flames
5. Coasters
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1957
1. Ricky Nelson
2. Sam Cooke
3. Danny and the Juniors
4. Larry Williams
5. Chantels
2. Sam Cooke
3. Danny and the Juniors
4. Larry Williams
5. Chantels
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1958
1. Ritchie Valens
2. Jerry Butler and the Impressions
3. Frankie Ford
4. Skyliners
5. Shirelles
2. Jerry Butler and the Impressions
3. Frankie Ford
4. Skyliners
5. Shirelles
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1959
1. Fleetwoods
2. Barrett Strong
3. Freddy Cannon
4. Ronnie Hawkins
5. Irma Thomas
2. Barrett Strong
3. Freddy Cannon
4. Ronnie Hawkins
5. Irma Thomas
List Compiled and Edited By: Bruce