50s Jukebox Revue

Conceived and adapted by Nate Jacobs

Nate Jacobs creates an exciting new musical that gives homage to the heyday of Rock and Roll. Relive the most exciting musical era of our time with the upbeat, energetic music from Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Muddy Waters. After singing and swinging to songs like "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," "Stagger Lee," and "Shake Rattle and Roll," you'll be twisting the night away and dancing out the door!

1950s Music History

The 1950s was a decade of innovation and change in the music industry. After World War II, Americans craved songs with optimistic, innocent, and romantic lyrics. Adults enjoyed classic pop music, country and western, and light rhythm and blues. Black crooners such as Sammy Davis Jr., Nate King Cole, Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick crossed the invisible barrier to become popular entertainers. To add a little spice, Creole, Cajun, and Latin rhythms were integrated into mainstream music. In addition, doo-wop songs, a form of rhythm and blues in which black ensembles sang in complex harmony, became record hits.

However, to America’s teenagers, most of these forms of music were sappy, “uncool.” They yearned for excitement and freedom in their music. They wanted lyrics that dealt with emotions and situations in their life, not those of their parents. Thus emerged a whole new sound – rock n’ roll. The movement began in Memphis where artists like Carl Perkins blended rhythm and blues with gospel or country music, and then added a strong back beat. His “rockabilly” recording of “Blue Suede Shoes” was a huge success. Another pioneer of rock n’ roll, Chuck Berry, popularized the electric guitar, which helped to make this music distinctive. The release of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley set a nation dancing to the new beat and opened up a generation gap in music listening.