rock
A broad genre of popular music originating in the 1950s, built on electric guitars, bass, drums, and vocals.
In Depth
Rock music emerged in the 1950s from the fusion of rhythm and blues, country, and gospel. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley were the founding figures, and the genre exploded into global dominance with the British Invasion led by the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the 1960s.
Rock has spawned dozens of subgenres: hard rock, punk, metal, progressive rock, alternative, grunge, indie, and more. At its core, rock is built on the electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals — a configuration that has remained remarkably consistent for over 70 years. The genre's cultural impact extends far beyond music into fashion, politics, and identity.
The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) is often called the first concept album in rock — though the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds (1966) arguably got there first.