Published for the first time in hardcover, this is the essential guide to the decade that spawned rock n roll and saw popular music set out on its path to becoming one of the dominant forces of post-war culture. It includes every artist who was quintessential to the decade—both those who had a significant impact on the development of popular music and those who flourished briefly. One thousand entries are distilled from the Encyclopedia of Popular Music, the world's leading source of reference on rock and pop history. The essential elements are covered—dates, career facts, discography, album ratings, and a sense of context for each artists.