But soon Elvis Presley became an American obsession. People tried to mimic the rock star by dressing like him and simulating his behavioral trends. As of today Elvis is remembered as the king of Rock n" Roll. .
The sixties were the years when Rock became known all over the world due to the development of European rock bands. "The British Invasion" was the term introduced to America when the Beatles emerged as the new generation of Rock "n" Rollers. Through the sixties, the Beatles dominated the record industries all over the United States. John Lennon and Paul McCartney formed the band in 1962. The group featured modern Rock that was new and popular during the period, with John Lennon and Paul McCartney composing and doing most of the singing. They were backed by George Harrison on bass guitar and Ringo Starr on drums. Following the Beatles, the Rolling Stones were the second most significant British band that became popular in the United States. These British bands instigated a return to the blues orientation of Rock 'n' Roll, although in even louder and more electric reincarnation.
In the late sixties, American Rock returned in a different genre that became known as Folk Rock. One of best-known American rock artists of the sixties was Bob Dylan. Through all of his music, one aspect that made him popular is his lyrics. Bob Dylan's lyrics are very well known. Ranging from comedic tones to tackling controversial issues such as prejudice, as in his song "Hurricane", Bob Dylan became the voice of oppressed. As Folk Rock became more and more popular, a new music style was evolved from it that became known as "hippie music.".
In the 1960s music mirrored the tensions of the Vietnam War era and played an important role in American culture. The verbal content of Rock songs turned toward rebellion, social protest, sex, and drugs. Many groups, among them Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead, tried to approximate in music the aural experience of drugs, producing long, repetitive songs with odd lyrics.
