1950s Wedding Songs Trending Now & Best Ever

Updated October 31, 2023 | Author: Matthew Campbell

Why not celebrate going to the chapel with the best music the 1950s had to offer?

1950s music for weddings

When picking out 1950s songs for your wedding, you must consider the following 3 factors:

  1. What is the tempo of the song to determine the style of dance?
  2. What is the meaning of the song and is it appropriate for your wedding?
  3. Does the song’s genre match the theme of your wedding?

Let’s start with the most popular right now.

Top Trending 1950s Wedding Songs

  1. “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole (R&B – 1951)
  2. “Shout” by The Isley Brothers (Rock – 1959)
  3. “Come Fly With Me” by Frank Sinatra (Jazz – 1958)
  4. “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley (Rock – 1957)
  5. “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin (Pop – 1953)
  6. “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley (Blues -1953)
  7. “Sway” by Dean Martin (Pop – 1954)
  8. “Great Balls Of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis (Rock – 1957)
  9. “La Vie En Rose” by Louis Armstrong (1950 – Jazz)
  10. “I Walk The Line” by Johnny Cash (Country – 1956)
  11. “Tequila” by The Champs (Surf – 1958)
  12. “High Hopes” by Frank Sinatra (Pop – 1959)
  13. “Island In The Sun” by Harry Belafonte (Pop – 1957)
  14. “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry (Rock – 1958)
  15. “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens (}Rock – 1958)
  16. “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley (Blues – 1953)
  17. “Mack The Knife” by Bobby Darin (Pop – 1959)
  18. “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka (Pop – 1959)
  19. “Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley (Rockabilly – 1956)
  20. “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke (R&B – 1957)

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As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of popular 1950s songs to get people on the dance floor and for romance at your wedding! The list is grouped by genre to match your taste in music.

1950s R&B Favorites

  1. Money (That’s What I Want) – Barrett Strong (money dance song)
  2. Sea Of Love – Phil Phillips
  3. What’d I Say – Ray Charles
  4. Love Potion No. 9 – The Clovers
  5. Dance With Me – The Drifters
  6. Shout – The Isley Brothers (party dance song)
  7. Kansas City – Wilbert Harrison
  8. Chantilly Lace – Big Bopper
  9. Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes – Chuck Willis
  10. For Your Precious Love – Jerry Butler & the Impressions
  11. Willie & The Hand Jive – Johnny Otis
  12. He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands – Laurie London
  13. You Send Me – Sam Cooke (recessional song)
  14. Honky Tonk, Part 1 – Bill Doggett
  15. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
  16. Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino
  17. I’m In Love Again – Fats Domino
  18. The ABC’s Of Love – Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
  19. Jim Dandy – Lavern Baker
  20. Let The Good Times Roll – Shirley & Lee
  21. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
  22. At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama) – El Dorados
  23. Pledging My Love – Johnny Ace
  24. Tweedlee Dee – LaVern Baker
  25. Sincerely – The Moonglows
  26. I’ve Got A Woman – Ray Charles
  27. Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight – The Spaniels (last dance song)
 

1950s Country Hits

  1. My Special Angel – Bobby Helms
  2. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine – Jimmie Rodgers
  3. Young Love – Sonny James
  4. I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash (party dance song)
  5. Jambalaya (On The Bayou) – Hank Williams
  6. Hey Good Lookin’ – Hank Williams

Tip

Listen to the 1940s wedding playlist.

 

1950s Doo-Wop Tracks

  1. Charlie Brown – The Coasters
  2. I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos (first dance song)
  3. Rock and Roll is Here To Stay – Danny & the Juniors
  4. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters
  5. 16 Candles – The Crests
  6. Little Star – The Elegants
  7. At The Hop – Danny & the Juniors
  8. Little Darlin’ – The Diamonds
  9. The Stroll – The Diamonds
  10. Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris
  11. In The Still of The Night – The Five Satins (slow dance song)
  12. Come Go With Me – The Del-Vikings
  13. Only You – The Platters
  14. Sh-Boom – The Chords
  15. Earth Angel – The Penguins
  16. Gee – The Crows
 

1950s Rockabilly Tunes

  1. Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy (party song)
  2. Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
  3. Party Doll – Buddy Knox
  4. Susie Q – Dale Hawkins
  5. Be-Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps

Tip

Play the 1960s wedding playlist too.

 

1950s Rock Chart Toppers

  1. Sea Cruise – Frankie Ford
  2. Splish Splash – Bobby Darin
  3. Rockin’ Robin – Bobby Day (party song)
  4. Rave On – Buddy Holly & the Crickets
  5. Tequila – The Champs (party song)
  6. Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry
  7. All I Have To Do Is Dream – Everly Brothers
  8. Good Golly, Miss Molly – Little Richard
  9. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens (party song)
  10. Book Of Love – The Monotones
  11. Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly & the Crickets
  12. That’ll Be The Day – Buddy Holly & the Crickets
  13. Rock And Roll Music – Chuck Berry
  14. All Shook Up – Elvis Presley (party song)
  15. Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
  16. Rockin’ Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu – Huey “Piano” Smith & the Clowns
  17. Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis (party song)
  18. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On – Jerry Lee Lewis
  19. Keep A Knockin’ – Little Richard
  20. Searchin’ – The Coasters
  21. Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
  22. Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley
  23. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
  24. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You – Elvis Presley
  25. Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley (slow dance song)
  26. Fever – Little Willie John
  27. Love Is Strange – Mickey & Sylvia
  28. Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
  29. Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley & His Comets
 

1950s Pop Must-Plays

  1. Swinging on a Rainbow – Frankie Avalon
  2. Mack The Knife – Bobby Darin (cocktail hour song)
  3. Venus – Frankie Avalon
  4. Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka
  5. Sleep Walk – Santo and Johnny
  6. Come Softly To Me – The Fleetwoods
  7. Do You Want To Dance – Bobby Freeman
  8. To Know Him is To Love Him – Teddy Bears
  9. Lollipop – The Chordettes
  10. It’s All in The Game – Tommy Edwards
  11. Tammy – Debbie Reynolds
  12. All The Way – Frank Sinatra
  13. Chances Are – Johnny Mathis
  14. April Love – Pat Boone
  15. Diana – Paul Anka
  16. Memories Are Made Of This – Dean Martin (love song)
  17. Banana Boat Song – Harry Belafonte (limbo song)
  18. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing – The Four Aces
  19. Autumn Leaves – Roger Williams

 

FAQs

The decade that followed the end of World War II brought prosperity and, with that, fun tunes to dance the twist, and more.

Sure, the 1950s brought rock and roll which was a natural evolution from jazz.

Their parents listened to Big Band and Swing. Partner dancing just kept up its pace.

Ballads were still big in the 1950s, with such crooners as Dean Martin, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and Pat Boone.

So, what defines 1950s music is the backbeat, great vocals, and a memorable chorus.

Rock and roll music started in the mid-1950s and became mainstream with artists such as Bill Haley & His Comets and Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley became the image of Best 1950s Music. That decade made him “The King of Rock and Roll.”

Elvis ruffled the feathers of the squares after his pelvis gyrations on The Ed Sullivan Show. That kind of dancing was never shown on television before. Rock and Roll didn’t dominate the 1950s, however. Country and Western grew in popularity with such artists as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Porter Wagoner. Carl Perkins fueled a new version of country and western and R&B combined called rockabilly. Arguably, there was quite a bit of crossover.

Hank Williams also helped to popularize Honky Tonk, a style of country music characterized by a style of piano playing emphasizing rhythm more than harmony. (Does this remind you of jazz? It should) It is interesting to note the “tonk” in the word Honky Tonk was taken from a manufacturer of an upright piano.

In the 1950s, we saw the popularization of television, dance shows, and even the credit card system in the USA. Although color televisions were being introduced, most shows were seen in the afternoon and evenings in black and white.

Popular TV shows included I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, and The Twilight Zone. Segregation was also made illegal. Space travel became a reality with the Russian Sputnik 1. America also grew by 2 States with the addition of Hawaii and Alaska. That was a lot of change. Sound stressful? Yeah, dance it out.

Hot fashion trends included men’s bomber jackets (WWII), Bermuda shorts, and a nipped waist for women. In the early 1950s, there was a major advancement in medicine with the creation of a vaccine to prevent polio. So you can see, Daddy-O, why people wanted to splish splash, rock around the clock, and do the jailhouse rock.

Why trust Matthew Campbell?

DJ, Author, Music Lover

matt

Matthew (Matt) Campbell is the founder/editor of My Wedding Songs from his experience as a wedding DJ. He is the author of two wedding planners: ‘Wedding Songs Planner’ and ‘The Wedding Music Toolkit’. Matt is the host of the ‘Wedding Songs Podcast’. He shares music inspiration in his weekly newsletter the ‘Wedding MusicLetter’. His articles have been published on Rolling Stone, DJ Life Magazine, and DJ Times. Matt resides in the wedding capital of the world – Las Vegas.

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