1. 1944 Versatile composer, conductor, pianist, Leonard Bernstein composes musical On the Town, followed by string of others, including West Side Story.

2. 1947 Singer Mahalia Jackson inaugurates "golden age of gospel music" through 1965. 1948 Columbia Records introduces "long playing" vinyl record

3. 1951 Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed uses term "rock 'n' roll" to promote rhythm and blues to white audiences Bill Haley and the Comets become first major white band to use black rock 'n' roll forms, featuring heavy, danceable beat and repetitive patterns, "Rock Around the Clock" becomes huge hit. 1954

4. 1955 Elvis Presley becomes the first rock star

5. 1958 Country Music Association is established in Nashville Billboard magazine begins Hot 100 chart listing popular songs. Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" is the first No. 1 record.

6. 1959 National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presents first Grammy Award for music recorded in previous year. Berry Gordy Jr. founds Motown record company to mass-market black music. Stars include the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye

7. 1961 Country singer Patsy Cline becomes mainstream popular (pop) music hit

8. 1963 Folk singer Bob Dylan popularizes protest songs Peter, Paul and Mary sing Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" at the 1963 March on Washington

9. 1964 The Beatles' song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a sensation, igniting the immense popularity of British groups, known as the "British invasion"; Other popular British groups are the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Herman's Hermits