Beat music, which is also referred to as Merseybeat and British beat, emerged in the early 1960s. It deviated from other rock music genres by bringing together a rich collection of sounds from doo wop, skiffle, soul, R and B and traditional rock and roll music. This type of music was highly influential to the bands that would come later. It even solidified the typical rock group format, which generally includes a lead, bass and rhythm guitar player and drummer.
During the late 1950s, groups began to appear as a result of the waning skiffle genre. This was primarily focused in urban regions in the United Kingdom, primarily Manchester, Liverpool, London and Birmingham. Liverpool was an exceptionally popular area for beat music, with an estimated 350 active bands that played in venues all over the city. Liverpool is also located in the borough of Merseyside, which lent its name to the term “Merseybeat.”
Beat music was largely influenced by a number of social factors, including the decline of industry, social deprivation and a local solidarity that pulled it all together. A large Irish population also contributed its part to the beat movement. It is believed that the growth of beat music also helped form the bands that brought about the “British invasion” of America’s music industry which occurred after 1964.
The genre also had heavy influences from American musicians, including Buddy Holly and the Crickets. The beat music links with America also made it much easier to obtain American instruments (including guitars) and records.
In 1962, the Beatles had gained national success throughout Britain. This helped make way for many Liverpool born performers, such as Cilla Black, the Searchers and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Other bands from outside of Liverpool were also associated with the beat genre, including the Moody Blues, Them, the Animals and the Spencer Davis Group.
The term “British invasion” was first used by popular television reporter Walter Cronkite. Cronkite used it to describe the arrival of the Beatles in the United States. Beatlemania spread during 1964 while many similar beat influenced bands had at least one or more number one singles on the American music charts. These acts included Petula Clark, the Animals, Peter and Gordon, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Dave Clark Five, the Troggs, Herman’s Hermits, the Rolling Stones and Donovan.
Although beat music enjoyed several years of popularity, it began to decline by 1966. During this time, music fans and musicians moved into blues rock and harder edged music. The bands that were still together began to adopt other forms of rock, from progressive to pop and psychedelic. Beat remained a strong influence on folk rock and American garage rock bands.
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