The Beats of the Fifties

... were multi-ethnic hybrids with a variety of origins.

• The Bo Diddley beat, inspired by Afro-Caribbean music, caught on well with many performers putting it in their records, from Johnny Otis to Buddy Holly.
• A bass guitar riff was conveniently used by Elvis and Fats Domino among many others was from Cuban music.
• Mexican rhythms were popularized by Ritchie Valens.
• The swinging saxophone heard in the Fifties rock was derived out of the Forties Big-Band swing, along with the stop-time breaks.