prerock

adjective

pre·​rock ˌprē-ˈräk 

variants or pre-rock

: of, relating to, or being the period before the existence of rock music

In the 1950-54 prerock period—the most tepid five years in the history of 20th century music …

—Richard Corliss

the pre-rock era

pre-rock singers

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above