Rare Footage from 1953

1950s

Explore 52 rare behind-the-scenes clips and footage of famous musicians from 1953.

The 1950s in Music

The 1950s saw the birth of rock and roll, the explosion of bebop jazz, and the rise of electric blues. Artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Miles Davis were reshaping popular music, while behind the scenes, Sam Phillips was experimenting at Sun Studio and Atlantic Records was capturing the raw energy of rhythm and blues. Footage from this era is exceptionally rare — most of what survives comes from early television appearances, newsreels, and the occasional home movie.

Artists

Elsbeary HobbsLonzo and OscarDavid BaughanWalt AldridgeStingBlues bigBlues big mJames WilliamsonGerhart ThrasherRudy LewisVerne AllisonPiano RedFrank WessMax Roachdoo wop aR.E.M.doo wopThe La'sduke ellington sJoe Willie WilkinsKansas Joe McCoyMidnightThe BandJam sessionThe WhoY&TLightnin' HopkinsThomas A. DorseyLloyd PriceHarry BabasinIrationL.A.B.Dolores KeaneDoug QuattlebaumByard LancasterSineLittle MiltonIke TurnerJunior ParkerStevie Ray VaughanGuitar SlimRay CharlesJimmy RogersLottie Kimbrough