SoundsField recordingsFrequenciesDecibelsInstrumentsGlossaryToolsLearn
  1. Home
  2. Music genres
  3. United States
  4. Rockabilly: Origins, Sound & Key Artists
Music genre

Rockabilly

Rockabilly is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1950s. It is usually classed as a form of rock and roll. Explore its 2 subgenres, key artists and related styles.

Listen: Rockabilly examples

Dixiefried
2:26Public domainby Perkins/GriffinWikimedia Commons
2:26
Rockabilly labo (sans chorus)
1:40CC BY-SA 4.0by Claude ReidWikimedia Commons
1:40
Rockabilly labo (exploration chorus)
1:40CC BY-SA 4.0by Claude ReidWikimedia Commons
1:40

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

About Rockabilly

Rockabilly is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1950s. It is usually classed as a form of rock and roll.

Well-known performers associated with it include Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Rockabilly has given rise to 2 subgenres on this site, such as Psychobilly and Neo-rockabilly.

From Wikipedia

Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre, it blends the sound of country and western music with that of rhythm and blues, leading to what is considered "classic" rock and roll. Some have also described it as a blend of bluegrass with rock and roll. The term "rockabilly" itself is a portmanteau of "rock" (from "rock 'n' roll") and "hillbilly", the latter a reference to the country music (often called "hillbilly music" in the 1940s and 1950s) that contributed strongly to the style. Other important influences on rockabilly include Western swing, boogie-woogie, jump blues, and electric blues.

Genre family tree

Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Rockabilly.

Key artists

  • Elvis Presley
  • Johnny Cash
  • Neil Young
  • Buddy Holly
  • Roy Orbison
  • Jerry Lee Lewis
  • Ricky Nelson
  • Waylon Jennings
  • Carl Perkins
  • Brenda Lee

Related genres

Frequently asked questions

What is Rockabilly?

Rockabilly is a music genre that emerged in United States in the 1950s. It is usually classed as a form of rock and roll.

Where and when did Rockabilly originate?

Rockabilly originated in United States in the 1950s.

Who are famous Rockabilly artists?

Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Sources & credits