and, we listen in as british rock star, billy bragg, explores how a little known musical genre, called skiffle, brought us bands like the beatles. >> from january 1964 to december 1965 there's a british group at number one in the american charts for 52 weeks out of 104. every single one of them begins as a skiffle group. >> woodruff: all that and more on tonight's pbs newshour. >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: ♪ ♪ moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> supporting social entrepreneurs and their solutions to the world's most pressing problems-- skollfoundation.org. >> the lemelson foundation. committed to improving lives through invention. in the u.s. and developing countries. on the web at lemelson.org. >> supported by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. more information at macfound.org >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions: >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs s

and, we listen in as british rock star, billy bragg, explores how a little known musical genre, called skiffle, brought us bands like thbe