What were some of the most popular musical styles from the 1920’s and 1930’s?

The most popular musical styles in 1920 and 1930 were Jazz and Blues. The 64-bar show tune, the romantic ballad and the tenor sax dominated the East Side Style, (Mordden 16). Another style that was used was Scat singing.

Who were some of the blues and/or Jazz musicians?

At the beginning of 1920, Jazz music had started progressing and was fueled by the prohibition of alcohol to some extent. In Chicago, jazz scene developed very fast as a result of immigration of jazzmen (Naumann and Aoseley 87).  Some of the jazz musicians included, Paul Whiteman who recorded a subgenre known as Whispering. Other jazz musicians included Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Blues music was also played during the period by musicians such as Mamie Smith who recorded Crazy Blues.

What were the most songs about?

Jazz had its roots in work songs, blues, field holler, and spirituals. Some were gospel and other songs were about love.

What was the difference between white music and black music?

The main difference between white music and black music was the instruments used to play the music (Randle 67). Many Africans and Hispanic Americans had fewer instruments, teachers, and opportunities as opposed to the white musicians.

Works Cited

Mordden, Ethan. Make belief: the Broadway musical in the 1920s. Oxford University Press, 1997.

Naumann, Emil, and F. A. Gore Ouseley. The history of music. Cambridge University Press, 2013.

Randle, William. “Black Entertainers on Radio, 1920-1930.” The Black Perspective in Music, vol. 5, no. 1, 1977, p. 67., doi:10.2307/1214359.

Works Cited

Davis, Nancy J., and Robert V. Robinson. Sociological Perspectives. Pearson Custom Pub., 2009.

Jarvis, Peter. Globalisation, lifelong learning and the learning society: sociological perspectives. Routledge, 2008.