WHILE WE'RE AT IT - CAN WE HAVE A GO AT WESTLIFE, BOYZONE, TAKE THAT , SPICE GIRLS, GIRLS ALOUD, KYLIE, MADONNA ETC (and the list goes on into many hundreds)
For the record:
In the UK at least - Cliff did play an important role in the late 50s, as did Billy Fury, Joe Brown etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOnlG2DtySACliff was at first seen as the British Elvis back in about 1958 - i know he seems completely saccharine by todays' standards but it wads important in it's day.
I believe Cliff bought the first Fender strat in the UK as well!
The Shadows as well had a huge effect on music and guitar playing as well, but nobody said you have to like them.