Yeah, MTed,
There was a sea-change in popular music about 1954/1955, when R&B got more popular and rock and roll was 'born' with folks like Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and The Comets, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc. Then at the end of the decade the popular folk revival started with The Kingston Trio, etc. Country music was kind of a different matter, but there was a lot of crossover, with Hank Williams's songs being recorded by Tony Bennett, Jo Stafford, etc. The Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Patsy Cline, Elvis and others helped bridge that gap, too.

A few other big 50's hits I can think of are:
Till Rock and Roll Waltz (the #1 record for 1953 or 1954)
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine
Wheel Of Fortune
Purple People Eater
Kiss Of Fire
The Witch Doctor
Old Shep
Tutti Frutti
Teenager In Love