The Reading Warehouse

Throbbing disco beats boom at the club.
Crowds move to the lively beat of dance pop hits.
Fans scream and cheer for teen idols.
These are the sounds of pop.

After Elvis hit the scene in the 1950s, a distinct youth taste in popular music began to emerge. The sound of pop music has varied greatly in the decades since Elvis, ranging from rock to disco to boy bands to dance pop. But all pop music is defined by catchy melodies and a broad appeal to teens.

Find out how it all began. Learn about MTV's role in shaping pop music. Discover the stories of bubblegum pop groups, family bands, dance-pop idols, and disco sensations. And read more about legends such as Paul Anka, Madonna, the Jackson Five, and Katy Perry.

Arie Kaplan has written jokes and comedy sketches for the television series TruTV Presents: World's Dumbest.... He has also written humor articles for MAD Magazine. Aside from his work as a comedy writer, Arie has written numerous nonfiction books for young readers on subjects ranging from the life of Vlad the Impaler to the history of pop music. As a comics writer, he has written comic book stories and graphic novels for DC Comics, Archie Comics, Bongo Comics, IDW Publishing, Penguin Young Readers Group, and other publishers. He is the author of the acclaimed nonfiction book From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books, which was a 2008 finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. He lives with his family in New York City. Please check out his website, www.ariekaplan.com