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Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images 5 Bands Formed in 1969 That Shaped Popular Music as We Know It
We take a look at five iconic bands that formed in 1969 and went on to shape pop music as we know it today.
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Frankie Goes To Hollywood, performing in Washington during their US tour, 8th November 1984. (Photo by Mike Maloney/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) -
IRVINE, CA – AUGUST 14: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers in concert at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater on August 14, 1989 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
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American singer, songwriter and disc jockey The Big Bopper, circa 1955. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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Country Singer Waylon Jennings Performing -
Musician Ricky Nelson Playing Guitar (Photo by ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -
(Photo by Gerrit Alan Fokkema/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).
News
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – MAY 31: Cody Jinks performs during the 2025 Railbird Music Festival at The Infield at Red Mile on May 31, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – MARCH 4: Singer Dolly Parton performs at the Weinstein Co. Pre-Oscar Party at the Pacific Design Center on March 4, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 25: Garth Brooks performs on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on November 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 18: John Anderson speaks at the announcement of the 2024 Country Music Hall of Fame Induction at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on March 18, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
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MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 21: Pitbull speaks onstage during Billboard Latin Music Week Miami 2026 at Faena Forum on October 21, 2026 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images) -
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 1907 — Pictured: (l-r) Grace Reiter as Coco, Ashley Padilla as a mother who's babysitter canceled, and anchor Colin Jost during Weekend Update on Saturday, October 10, 2026 — (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 11: Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac performs onstage during Fleetwood Mac In Concert at Madison Square Garden on March 11, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) -
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Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage -
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 14: Inductees Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi of Bon Jovi perform during the 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Auditorium on April 14, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 10: Zach Bryan performs at The Basement East on September 10, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Behind Songs
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NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 24: Singer-songwriter Eric Church and Katherine Blasingame Church attend Best Cellars Wine Dinner hosted by T.J. Martell Foundation on April 24, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for T.J. Martell) -
Keith Whitley Portrait Session Country singer and songwriter Keith Whitley poses for and RCA Records publicity still in 1984. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Musician Toby Keith performs on stage during the 2009 CMT Music Awards at the Sommet Center on June 16, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) -
(Original Caption) 2/17/56-Hollywood, California: Singing actress Doris Day models one of the American-girl-look outifts she's designing for Little Miss English Ltd. The full skirt and matching sleeveless camisole blouse are of silk-finish cotton satin in a leaf print on soft blue. The companion sweater, a feature of all Miss Day's designs, picks up one of the leaf colors and is trimmed with French cuffs and Peter Pan collar of the print material. The three pieces may be bought separately.
American Songwriter Magazine:
September/October 2026 Issue: Alex Warren Leaves Expectations Behind
On This Day
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American singer and musician Maybelle Carter (1909-1978) of The Carter Family, playing the autoharp as the band perform live at Columbia Recording Studios, possibly during the recording of 'An Historic Reunion' at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, June 1966. Maybelle and her daughters had also performed as The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle. (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
FRANKLIN, TN – Jimmy Wayne performs onstage during A Welby Street Christmas: Hosted by Serene & Pearl at Franklin Theater on December 9, 2016 in Franklin, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for Bandtwango)
Features
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The members of the new wave band the B-52s pose outdoors in front of a lake. From left to right: Fred Schneider (vocals), Kate Pierson (vocals and keyboards), Ricky Wilson (guitar), Keith Strickland (drums), and Cindy Wilson (vocals and guitar). (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) -
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: Photo of Skeeter DAVIS (Photo by Gems/Redferns) -
Willie Nelson performing at the Aragon Ballroom In Chicago, Ilinois, February 26, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
Photo by American Stock/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Every Baby Boomer Alive Has a Core Memory to Go With These 4 Hits From 1976
Every baby boomer alive likely has a core memory (or three) to go with these four chart-topping hits from 1976.
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CIRCA 1975: Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon and Pete Townshend of the rock and roll band "The Who" pose for a portrait in circa 1975. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
The Beatles pose with their MBEs at a press conference held at the Saville Theatre, London, following their investiture at Buckingham Palace. Top left to right: George Harrison, John Lennon. Bottom: Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. 26th October 1965. (Photo by Mirrorpix via Getty Images) -
George Michael performing in 1989. (Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
American singer-songwriter Donna Summer (1948 – 2012) performing on stage, USA, July 1979. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
ROSEMONT, IL – JUNE 7: Phil Collins of Genesis performs at the Rosemont Horizon on June 7, 1980 in Rosemont, Illinois (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage)
Interviews
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Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Lists
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Pop group the Bee Gees posed with a stuffed polar bear in an office in London circa April 1968. Members of the band are, from left, Colin Petersen, Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb (1949-2003), Robin Gibb (1949-2012) and Vince Melouney. (Photo by Ivan Keeman/Redferns) -
Singer, songwriter and musician Eric Stewart performing with English rock band 10cc, February 1976. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in a scene from the film 'Dirty Dancing', 1987. (Photo by Vestron/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK – DECEMBER 21: Rock and roll guitarist Frank Zappa wears a black fur coat as he operates a telephone switchboard and talks on the phone at Apostolic Studio – Soho on December 21, 1966 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)