Don't forget Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Link Wray, etal.
One huge question I have is given the talent of those rnr titans, how did rock degenerate so bad in the late fifties until the Beatles arrived on the scene?
@goatprairie IMNSHO,this happened because it became "big bidnez",and was taken out of the hands of the fans that produced and promoted it,and handed over to the corporations,whose business model is "don't make waves and sell "comfortable product".
Many parents in the 50's and early 60's violently opposed this "demonic music that promotes sex!". At least one song by Link Wray was banned from air play due to being "too suggestive". I THINK it was Rumble,even though there are only guitar riffs (MASTER guitar riffs,btw),but it could have been "Good Time Joe","Backwoods Preacher Man",or any of the others.
My parents,for some odd reason I will never understand,LOVED it. They never even complained about "that noise" when I was cranking up Lynard Skynard and Pink Floyd in the 70's. Sometimes they would even ask me the name of a song they really liked.AFAIK,none of my friends at that time had this experience.
BTW,for those who don't know,Link Wray was still touring and trying to get record contracts,right up to the time he died a few years ago.
When it comes to 50's guitar,Link Wray WAS "the man"!