Before there was Linda Ronstadt or Janis Joplin there were female pioneers of rock and roll. During the Elvis Era, rock and roll was mostly a boys' club, but there were a few female rock and rollers. Below is a collection of songs from the female vocalists who represented the new sound of rock and roll. The list was limited to soloists only, so singers like Martha Reeves (Martha & The Vandellas) were not included.

 

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title artist highest ranking Date Highest Rank
I Hear You Knocking Gale Storm 2 12/17/1955
Jim Dandy LaVern Baker 17 2/6/1957
Fever Peggy Lee 8 8/18/1958
Stupid Cupid Connie Francis 14 9/22/1958
Pink Shoe Laces Dodie Stevens 3 4/13/1959
Lipstick on Your Collar Connie Francis 5 6/29/1959
First Name Initial Annette 20 1/11/1960
Sweet Nothin's Brenda Lee 4 4/18/1960
That's All You Gotta Do Brenda Lee 6 7/4/1960
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Brenda Lee 14 12/26/1960
I've Told Every Little Star Linda Scott 3 4/29/1961
In the Middle of a Heartache Wanda Jackson 27 12/2/1961
I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) Barbara George 3 1/27/1962
Mashed Potato Time Dee Dee Sharp 2 5/5/1962
The Locomotion Little Eva 1 8/25/1962
Party Lights Claudine Clark 5 9/1/1962
Bobby's Girl Marcie Blane 3 12/1/1962
Blame It On the Bossa Nova Eydie Gorme 7 3/2/1963
I Will Follow Him Little Peggy March 1 4/27/1963
It's My Party Lesley Gore 1 6/1/1963
Just One Look Doris Troy 10 7/27/1963
I Can't Stay Mad At You Skeeter Davis 7 11/2/1963