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Europeans trafficked and sold Africans as slaves to the Caribbean.
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Many African slaves worked on sugar, cotton, and tobacco plantations in America.
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In New Orleans, a free mixed race (white French slave masters and African female slaves) people group, known as the Creoles are born.
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In the plantations, African Americans sang Spirituals, work songs, and Blues.
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The Spainards take over New Orleans and the Creole people lose their rights and become traveling musicians. Thus, the roots of jazz is believed to be traced back to these traveling Creole musicians.
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European ships continue to bring 50,000 African slaves each year to America.
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Ragtime becomes a popular genre of music. Dixieland jazz is derived from ragtime and is a fusion os Spirituals/Blues and Europeans music.
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Scott Joplin is the first African American to become a celebrity performer. He composed many piano pieces which were played in homes.
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Two Million African Americans move to the north (Chicago/New York City) to escape racism. They brought jazz with them.
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Bessie Smith records Blues record and it becomes a big hit for African Americans and Caucasians.
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Speakeasies are set up in Harlem (New York City) and give people and opportunity to hear jazz. Among the famous musicians are Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington.
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Louis Armstrong is rising in his career and setting a foundational for standard jazz.
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During WWII, Glenn Miller brought Swing music to the armed forces. Many British people enjoyed the music and the lindy hop dancing.
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During WWII in the US, Count Basie and Duke Ellington orchestras tour the country. Jazz is heavily broadcasted on the radio and millions of records are sold.
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Many jazz musicians become well-known such as Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. Jazz evolves into Bebop. Bepop uses complex rhythms, further harmony, and improvisation.
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Jazz continues to change with leading artists experimenting with musical possibilities. Among the leading artists are Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
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Hard Bop, Cool Jazz, and Modal Jazz become new styles in the modern era.
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Jazz goes on to influence Rock, Latin, African-style music, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, and is found all over the world.
