Skip to Main Content

Rock Music: 1960s

"So You Want to be a Rock and Roll Star?": Rock Music in the 1960s


With the establishment of rock journalism, rock music was seen as a more legitimate genre during the 1960s. However, many artists branched away from the perceived 1950s solidification of rock 'n' roll. These library resources delve into the splintering of rock music styles and examine its reflection on social and cultural movements of the era. 

Books

Articles

Archival Materials

Roger McGuinn Collection, 1999-2000

This collection contains an audiocassette oral history interview with founding Byrds member Roger McGuinn. The interview was conducted on March 24, 2000 by John Covach, Paul Jones, and Steve Weiss (FS-20319/6088). 

Dick Waterman Photograph Collection, 1960-2003

This collection includes photographic negatives and proof sheets of prominent blues-rock, country-rock, and folk-rock musicians as well as the traditional musicians that influenced them. Images depict artists such as Joan Baez, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Lightening Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, Taj Mahal, and Muddy Waters performing at festivals and events during the 1960s, like the Newport Folk Festival. 

Jerry Wexler Collection, 1967-2004

This collection includes newspaper clippings, artists and producer materials, and commercial recordings documenting Jerry Wexler's time at Atlantic Records and his impact on the music industry by further defining rhythm and blues and rock music during the late 1960s. 

Bebo White Collection, 1927-2018

This collection contains an open reel sound recording of an interview conducted on March 19, 1965 by Bebo White with Bob Dylan and Joan Baez in Raleigh, N.C. (FT-20544/1) and an autographed photograph from the session (PF-20544/6).

Burk Uzzle Photographic Collection, 1960s-2010s

This collection includes photographs relating to the career of photojournalist Burk Uzzle. A portion of this collection contains photographic material relating to the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival. Uzzle captured the iconic image used for the album cover.

Audio

Advanced Search | New Books | WorldCat

The Music Library holds more than 60,000 sound and video recordings you can check out. Use the library catalog to find their call numbers, then ask for them at the Music Library Circulation Desk.

  • Use ALL FIELDS search.
  • Refine your search (to CD, Vinyl record, Audiocassette, etc)  with limiters on the left side of the screen

Ex. ALL FIELDS: The Beatles   
      RESOURCE TYPE: Music recording

   Ex. ALL FIELDS: Rock music
         PHYSICAL MEDIA: Vinyl record

Pay attention to the item's location; there are several collections on campus that have music materials.

When you find a recording you are interested in, click on its Subject tab to find similar items.  If the item you want is checked out or we don't own it, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan.

Videos

Suggested Subject Headings

"Rock music -- 1961-1970"

"Avant-garde (Music)"

"Blues-rock music"

"Country rock music"

"Folk-rock music"

"Funk (Music)"

"Garage rock music"

"Psychedelic rock music"

 "Progressive rock music"

"Soul music"

"Surf music"

Pictorial Works