Rare Footage from 1961

1960s

Explore 132 rare behind-the-scenes clips and footage of famous musicians from 1961.

1961 in Music

Bob Dylan arrived in New York. The Beatles were playing marathon sets at the Cavern Club. Motown released its first number-one single. Ray Charles's 'Hit the Road Jack' crossed every genre boundary. Soul music was emerging as a force.

Artists

Spade CooleyEddyJune Carter CashPrince JazzboL.A.B.CreamP.O.D.Y&TMartin CarthyThe Stanley BrothersTennessee Ernie FordLonzo and OscarWanda JacksonThe Ink SpotsMarqueeJames BrownEverything EverythingThe ContoursJ.O.E.Johnny GriffithStevie WonderMarvin GayeR.E.M.Bob BabbittEarl Van DykeThe Jackson 5The TemptationsThe Funk BrothersThe Four TopsJackie WilsonThe SupremesJames JamersonNMEJoe HunterJoe MessinaEddie WillisRobert WhiteJack AshfordSineT.O.K.Chubby CheckerMaeRough CuttHenry CosbyDon CovayRobert SmithRobert Curtis SmithMitch MitchellEric Von SchmidtWinoLaLa BrookssooThe CrystalsCarole KingSongwriterThe Beach BoysThe BandThe RonettesWilma LeeJohn JohnsonLeigh StephensAdam WadeLen ChandlerFreddie ScottHoward AndersonHerbie MannHoward LevyNick LaRoccaBig bandFabrizio De AndréVASTReniThe DoorsDon RichLefty BatesSnooks EaglinDon GibsonJohnny BondIan CrawfordJon KleinHank Cochranduke ellington sLouis ArmstrongThe Rolling StonesElvis PresleyDuke EllingtonThe BeatlesRolling Stonesduke ellington reRideGary U.S. BondsDottie WestIan StewartScrapper BlackwellRory GallagherLyricistDel ReevesRoy MiltonRoosevelt SykesElle KingJohn ColtraneStuart SutcliffeWilliam KimberMary WellsLittle MiltonLit (band)Little SisterRobert PlantPearl JamCKY (band)Red CallenderKim WestonJam sessionPhantom PlanetThe Staple SingersOtis ReddingJerry Lee LewisThe ByrdsJohn Lee HookerThe Bar-KaysIsaac HayesTommy HuntJimmy McCracklinBob DylanThe Mar-KeysThe SoundJazz bandMahalia JacksonJohn DensmoreThelonious Monk