When did the rock and roll era start?

The rock and roll era is generally considered to have begun in the mid-1950s with the emergence of rhythm and blues-influenced artists such as Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Little Richard. The genre gained further momentum in the late 1950s with the rise of artists such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Eddie Cochran.

Elvis Presley's recording of "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956 is often cited as the beginning of the rock and roll era.