In 1957 , a popular television show featuring rock and roll performers , American Bandstand , went national . Hosted by Dick Clark , the program helped to popularize the more clean-cut , All-American brand of rock and roll . By the end of the decade , teen idols like Bobby Darin , Ricky Nelson , Frankie Avalon , Paul Anka , Neil Sedaka , Bobby Rydell , Connie Francis , and Fabian Forte were topping the charts . Some commentators have perceived this as the decline of rock and roll ; citing the deaths of Buddy Holly , The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in a tragic plane crash in 1959 and the departure of Elvis for the army as causes
tragic plane crash in 1959
The Day the Music Died
1950s in music