This week started with the reading of chapters 3&4. In the 1920’s it was a major period for the development of popular music. This was also around the same time many families in America first had their own cars. With new developments, it allowed people to see more of the world around them and more of the culture in our world through music. During the 1920’s two social shifts happened in the United States. The first is that through phonographs, radio, Hollywood films, and tabloid new papers people first had a unified national popular culture. The other was that prohibition caused mass law-breaking and social conflict.
During the 1920’s and 1930’s the production of popular music was influenced by new technologies that were being introduced. This time also helped to protect the songwriters and artist that performed the new music. The big shift during this time was that the phonograph record would begin to outsell the sheet music produced. In the year 1919 Mary by George Stoddard would be the first song to be released before its sheet music. It was a great success for the Victor Company selling 300,000 recorders in three months. This would also show the trend in record production and by the early 1920’s 100 million records a month were being produced.
There would be change to the record industry in the way they recorded their artist. In 1925, the electric recording microphone was introduced and change the way that records were produced. From this technology, there would be new musical superstars that included Bing Crosby. During this time, the first major competition for records would be introduced. The radio network would start out as an amateur hobby but later turn into big business. In 1922, there would be over 564 stations around the United States.
The popular program Make Believe Ball Room would give birth to the first disc jockeys. They would take the place of bandleaders and provide an entertaining patter. In 1927, the film the Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson would be major success as the first motion picture with sound. MGM released the first musical The Broadway Melody in 1929.
Licensing and copyright agencies would be set up and made way for ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) in 1914. This would allow the artist to be paid for their music. In WWI there was a call for more syncopated music, this music was seen as a threat to public morality. Many great bandleaders such as W.C. Handy, Wilbur Sweatman, Ford Dabney and James Europe arrange ragtime music for ballrooms.
Vernon and Irene Castle became major superstars in the years around WWI. The team would introduce the world of wealth to new trends happening around the country. James Reese Europe also played a major part in the Castle’s successes and would lead one of the most influential Army Bands in the WWI. His band during WWI would be named the Hell Fighters, but they shared Jazz with people of France that would leave a lasting impression.
The Jazz craze started in WWI and some thought this was a fad that would fall out of popularity. Jazz had it roots in New Orleans but would be recorded in New York and Chicago. Original Dixieland Jazz Band first recorded their music in 1917. The Tiger Rag was recorded in 1918 and became one of their biggest hits. King Joe Oliver was a prominent music in his own right, but his cornetist and singer Louis Armstrong would be even more popular. His scatting and musicianship were no match for even popular singers like Bing Crosby.
The Jazz Age introduced more musicians to the American public. Noble Sissle and Eubine Blake became influential after being with James Reece Europe. They produced the first all-black musical, Shuffle Along. While the Jazz Age did create more jobs for black musicians most orchestra were segregated. One of the most successful dance bands of the 1920’s was the Ambassador Orchestra lead by Paul Whiteman. His form of jazz was considered a safe version of jazz to the public. Whiteman made important contributions to jazz and paved the way for the swing era. He also established professionalism that was imitated by dance bands on both sides of the color line.
Jazz was considered a novelty and Duke Ellington once stated that it was a musical stunt. This referred to early jazz recordings where musicians sounded like animals. This lead to bandleaders creating a carnival-like atmosphere this also allowed white listeners to experience, black culture without having to get close to black people. During the 1930’s Latin American musicians also gained popularity in the United States. The Success of “El Manicero” or the Peanut Vendor became the best-selling record of 1931.
During 1920’s and 1930’s music structure and styles dominated popular music. Irving Berlin achieved his first success writing ragtime music and became a music writing powerhouse. Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart, and Oscar Hammerstein produced some of the finest music through 1902-1979. Cole Porter wrote songs that became some of the world’s great jazz standards. George Gershwin grew up listening to jazz in New York City and did the most to bridge art music and popular music.
Tin Pan Alley helped America through the great depression. The writers of Tin Pan Alley normally did not create musical about the social problems but helped people escape daily life. Crooning became popular with American audiences; Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire’s recordings with the electric microphones made the musical experience seem private. My Blue Heaven by George Whiting became one of the best-selling songs of 1927. This also showed how Tin Pan Alley used its music to help people during the great depression. April Shower by Al Jolson had a very similar effect on the listeners during 1932. I Got Rhythm performed by Ethel Merman became an instant sensation in 1930 and stayed popular till 1947.
Tin Pan Alley seemed to offer and an endless supply of fine new songs. Broadway audiences would be more receptive to contemporary entertainment. Some musicians worked for both Tin Pan Alley and Broadway. This can be seen in the early works of George Gershwin. His song Swanee was a sentimental song about the American South. Broadway helped bring social issues to light in Showboat by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II it addressed racial issues with a complex plot. Its characters were allowed to experience genuine sorrow and pain.
Castle Rag
Tiger Rag
El Manicero
"Peanut Vendor"
My Blue Heaven
April Showers
I Got Rythm
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