Popular Music
1900-1950
What is popular music?
Popular music is like
a comet - it blazes for
a brief time
but then is forgotten.
In other words, popular music
is enjoyed for a limited time
but is then forgotten.
How many Top 40 songs do
you remember from two
years ago?
Styles of Music
Piano music that used banjo
picking techniques in the right
hand.
Ragtime music was a
modification of the march.
Popularity lasted from the late
1890’s to approximately 1917.
The two main cities for
Ragtime music were New
Orleans, Louisiana and St.
Louis, Missouri.
Born in Texas in 1868.
Son of a former slave.
Moved to St. Louis when he was
seventeen and became a firstrate ragtime player and
composer.
“New Orleans Blues”
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe
was his given name.
Born in New Orleans in 1890.
Transitional figure
between ragtime and jazz.
Band was named
Jelly Roll Morton & His
Red Hot Peppers.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1998.
Joe Howard
Irving Berlin
James Scott
What is Blues music?
The Blues originated
in the north
Mississippi Delta.
Blues songs are usually about
hardships and love lost. However, the
songs are not self-pitying but are a way
of dealing with disappointment and
adversity.
12-Bar Blues
By 1900 the Blues had developed into
a standard form - the 12-bar blues.
First, the pattern consists of 12 measures three groups of 4 measures.
The groups of 4 measures must be in
AAB form.
Finally, the music must follow a
specific chord pattern.
Let’s look at an example!
Little Red Rooster
by Willie Dixon
A - I had a little red rooster
To lazy to crow ‘fore days.
A - I had a little red rooster
To lazy to crow ‘fore days.
B - He kept ev’rything in the barnyard
Eager settin’ a-ready to lay.
Flip, Flop, and Fly
by Big Joe Turner
A - Now when I get the blues
I get me a rockin’ chair.
A - When I get the blues
I get me a rockin’ chair.
B - Well if the blues overtake me
Gonna rock right away from here.
There are 2 styles of Blues music.
Country or Rural Blues - A solo performer who
accompanies himself on an instrument
(acoustic guitar, harmonica, etc.).
City or Urban Blues - Faster and more rhythmic
than the country blues. Also, performers were
accompanied by a jazz ensemble including piano,
bass, drums, trumpet, clarinet, and trombone.
Lead Belly
“In New Orleans”
Inducted into Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1988
Blind Lemon Jefferson
“Match Box Blues”
Lightnin’ Hopkins
“Contrary Mary”
Big Joe Turner
“Flip, Flop, and Fly”
Inducted into Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1987
Big Bill Broonzy
Mamie Smith
“Mississippi River Blues”
“Crazy Blues”
Blues Artists
Known as “The Father of the Blues”
He was not the first to publish
blues music but he is credited
with giving it its contemporary form.
Born on November 16, 1873
Died on March 28, 1958
Played the cornet.
“St. Louis Blues”
Blues Artists
“From the start it was he who dominated
the music, who led the way -in style, sound,
repertoire, instrumentation, in every wayfirst as a great popular club performer from
the mid 1940’s on and, a few years later,
as the most influential recording artist
in the new amplified blues idiom.” - Pete Welding
Muddy Waters
In 2004, he was ranked #17 in
Rolling Stone magazine‘s list of
the 100 greatest artists of all times.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1987.
Considered the “Father of Chicago Blues.”
“I Can’t Be Satisfied”
Blues Artists
Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
J
A
Z
Z
“Mississippi Mud”
“Summertime”
“Mack the Knife”
What is Jazz music?
Jazz music is a fusion of African music
and European music. It is based on improvisation
(“on the spot” variations of melody and rhythm).
Born March 28, 1890 in Denver, Colorado.
Known as the “King of Jazz.”
In 1924 he commissioned George
Gershwin to compose “Rhapsody
in Blue.”
Honors include: 2 songs inducted
into the Grammy Hall of Fame, 2
stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,
and inducted into the Big Band and
Jazz Hall of Fame in 1993.
He died December 29, 1967.
Born August, 4 1901 in New Orleans,
Louisiana.
He died July 6, 1971.
He is known for his trumpet and cornet
playing, his “gravelly” vocals, and his
scat singing.
A unique characteristic of Louis’s music
is his use of VIBRATO (moves the jaw!)
Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1990.
“What a Wonderful World”
Born April 25, 1917 in Newport
News, Virginia.
Died June 15, 1996.
Known as “The First Lady of Song.”
She won 13 Grammy Awards.
“Mack the Knife”
Born April 7, 1915 in
Philadelphia, PA.
Died July 17, 1959.
Known as “Lady Day.”
The U2 song, “Angel of Harlem”
paid tribute to her.
Inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
“April in Paris”
The Swing Era is from
1930-1945.
Big Bands of 12 to 20 musicians
played smoother and simpler
jazz music.
Swing music was played so
that large groups of people
could dance to it.
Swing Music
Count Basie
Born August 21, 1904
Died April 26, 1984
He was a jazz pianist, organist,
bandleader, and composer.
Won 9 Grammy Awards
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
On the Hollywood walk of Fame
Cab Calloway
“Hi-De-Ho”
Born December 25, 1907
Died November 18, 1994
Jazz singer and bandleader
Master of scat singing
Duke Ellington
Born April 29, 1899
Died May 24, 1974
Composer, Pianist,
and Bandleader
12 Grammy Awards and a
Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award
Presidential Medal of Freedom
“Take the “A” Train”
Benny Goodman
Born May 30, 1909
Died June 13, 1986
Clarinetist and Bandleader
Known as the “King of Swing”
Received the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award
in 1986
“Stardust”
GlenN Miller
Born March 1, 1904
Missing December 25, 1944
His plane from England to Paris
went missing over the English
Channel.
Trombone player,
arranger, composer, and
bandleader.
Received the Grammy Lifetime
Achievement Award in 2003.
“Chattanooga Choo Choo”