Once dubbed “Little Las Vegas” for its dazzling nightlife, Wildwood, NJ has played host to some of the biggest names in music history. Legends like Elton John, Madonna, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, KISS, Louis Armstrong, Frankie Avalon, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, The Supremes, Fats Domino, and Nat King Cole have all graced its stages.

n 1957, Dick Clark brought his signature energy to the Starlight Ballroom, hosting dances the same year American Bandstand debuted live from Philadelphia. Just a few years earlier, during Memorial Day weekend of 1954, Bill Haley and the Comets premiered the iconic “Rock Around the Clock” at the HofBrau Hotel. And in 1960, Chubby Checker introduced the world to “The Twist” at the Rainbow Club.

Wildwood’s musical roots run deep, even inspiring Bobby Rydell’s 1963 hit “Wildwood Days,” a nostalgic tribute to the boardwalk and beach life. Today, the town keeps the spirit alive with its annual Fabulous Fifties Weekend every October—a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll, classic cars, and timeless memories.