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The origins of this band moved up to a fusion of hard rock and a classical symphonic sound, and a new name, with the “new” band covering a song popularized by the original group. And as the new incarnation gained popularity, it cut the strings from it's formula and picked up a more mainstream pop sound. The band's first Dick Clark TV appearance featured a Chuck Berry classic. The group had 20 US top 40 Billboard hits, and sold more than 100 million albums, but never had a number 1 hit. The creative force behind this band later teamed up with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Ray Orbison.

The Electric Light Orchestra descended from The Move, a highly successful British 60s band that had very little success in the U.S. but beau coups in Britain. With guitarist, singer and songwriter Roy Wood and guitarist-pianist Jeff Lynne, The Move experimented with a robust strings section, which proved to be powerful and also sold records. The ELO “experiment” took over and The Move was left behind. The Move had one U.S. hit, “Do Ya,” which ELO later covered (which explains why the two versions sound almost identical). As ELO, they put out eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and altogether have sold more than 100 million albums. ELO's 20 Billboard US Top 40 hits are the most by any band without ever having a #1 single.

The release of their second album, ELO 2 in 1973, included their signature version of the Chuck Berry classic “Roll Over Beethoven,” which they performed on American Bandstand.

In 1988, Jeff Lynne joined with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty to record as the Traveling Wilburys.