Ahmet Ertegun
Main Exhibit Hall
The history of rock & roll is far from linear. Explore the sonic history and many evolutions of the music that changed the world starting with the Roots of Rock, through the Legends of Rock, to today's artists in Right Here, Right Now.
THE BEAT GOES ON
Explore the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll and some of the most iconic One Hit Wonders.
DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK
How do early rock & roll songs go from being the devil's music to being used in prescription drug ads? How does Heavy Metal music labeled as profane go on to become high school marching band staples? Rock & Roll has always been music of youth culture, and so history keeps repeating itself.
Pioneers of Rock
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SUN RECORDS
Sun Records, established in 1952 by Sam Phillips, is a music landmark known for launching the careers of rock and roll icons like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. The studio's fusion of blues and country laid the groundwork for the rock and roll genre, making Sun Records a cornerstone in the evolution of American music.