Rock and Roll 

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         In the early fifties we see the emergence of a new type of music, Rock and Roll.  This new sound was derived from jazz and blues from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.  Such musicians as Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery led the way performing jazz on their Gibson guitars. Robert Johnson slid his blues into the publics eye also playing on a Gibson guitar.  Elvis Presley became very popular through out the fifties playing on an Gibson acoustic guitar.  He had help from Scotty Moore, who also played on a Gibson, and Bill Black on an upright bass.  This trio performed those fifties greats such as "Heartbreak Hotel" and "All Shook Up."
 
        In the mid fifties Chuck Berry played on what is thought to be the most influential Rock and Roll guitar in the world. His guitar, the Gibson ES-350T, was the guitar that he wrote the classics "Sweet Little Sixteen, "Memphis," "Rock & Roll Music," and "Johnny B. Goode."

        Even though that Gibson made many of the influential guitars in the fifties, a new guitar emerged into the scene.  Buddy Holly played on a Fender Stratocaster.  He recorded classics like "Peggy Sue" with his band The Crickets, which included Sonny Curtis, Don Guess and, Jerry Allison.  They played with the traditional electric guitar, upright bass, and 5 piece drum kit.  This ended on February 3, 1959 when Buddy Holly died in a plane crash.