During the 1940's, elements began to emerge from backwoods juke joints, southern gospel churches, main street county fairs, and muddy delta hamlets. Flourishing during the 1950's and early 1960's, a new musical style was forged bearing the label of "rock & roll". However, as the music style began to wane in the U.S., the ever rebellious youth latched on to the 1964 "British invasion" that changed the music scene. However, a new wave of American musicians laid the groundwork for a new creative renaissance in popular music during the late 1960's & 1970's. Finally, the 1980's capped off four decades of the most diversified music in modern history. Each produced unique vocal, lyric, instrumental, dance styles, and reflected changing social, political and world events. The music was influenced technology, lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language as well. "My" personal choices are only some of the MANY artists and songs that helped write the history of those amazing decades.