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Recorded Sound is Invented by Edison and his Phonograph
In 1877, Edison produced a working model of his invention, the phonograph. Not only did the Acoustic Era start with Thomas Edison’s phonograph, reproducing recorded sound as a whole started. Later improvements were made by Alexander Graham Bell and his brother. -
Ragtime Music is Born
Ragtime music was born in the African-American communities of St. Louis in the 1890’s. This style takes traditional march form and adds the “ragged” rhythms of African music. Ragtime was very popular dance music, that later evolved into Jazz. (an example of ragtime: https://youtu.be/fBWPzT7Oixk) -
Jazz Music is Born
Jazz music began in the early 1900's. It originates from blues and ragtime music. The genre was first mainly performed by African Americans. Jazz spread to dance halls, speakeasies, manifested in marching bands, and was popular on the radio. -
The London Symphony Orchestra is Established
The London Symphony Orchestra was set up by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's Hall Orchestra. -
Billboard Publishes One of Their First Lists of Top Songs
Billboard magazine publishes a list of the most popular vaudeville songs. This list becomes the predecessor to their trademark charts. -
Broadway Becomes Popular
The 1920's were Broadways prime years where it really began to boom and bring in more money. -
Crazy Blues by Mamie Smith is Recorded
Crazy Blues, a song written by Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds, was recorded on August 10, 1920. The song was released later this year. This song was ushered into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994.
(https://youtu.be/OiJrBgbwsJw) -
Three Little Words by Duke Ellington is Published
One of Duke Ellington's most popular songs, "Three Little Words" is published and helps him get his first #1 recording. The song is simple, yet clever which emphasizes the meaning of the words "I love you". (https://youtu.be/Gsf_V6bbcRk) -
Electric Guitar Debuts
Many modifications have been made to the electrical guitar since the first version debuted in 1931. -
Laurens Hammond Introduces His Hammond Organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ, invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert and first manufactured in 1935. -
Apollo Theater Opens
On this day, the 125th Street Apollo Theater opens with the show “Jazz a la Carte". -
Swing Music Becomes Popular
Swing gained popularity around 1935 and thus begun "the Swing Era" which lasted about 10 years. Swing music is a sub genre of jazz; however, it is easier to dance to swing which is why it gained so much popularity. (an example of Swing music: https://youtu.be/LPA8RDzl-Ss) -
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The Song Somewhere Over the Rainbow Debuts
The song, sung by Judy Garland debuts in 1939's The Wizard of Oz. -
R&B Music Comes into the Scene
The "Rhythm & Blues" term was created to replace the term "race music". As hip hop music arose and began to dominate the black social scene, R&B became thought of as love songs. In the 1950’s, R&B started to evolve into soul. -
Bing Crosby Releases White Christmas
The song is originally from the film Holiday Inn. This song goes on to be the all-time, top-selling song from a film. -
Five Minutes More by Frank Sinatra is Published
This song is another one of Frank Sinatra's number one hits. (https://youtu.be/V_8p9rAtctM) -
Birth of Rock and Roll
Nobody knows where, when, or what started rock and roll music. Some scholars of popular music would say 1935, the year Elvis Presley entered the world, or earlier in the 30's, when hillbilly fiddle tunes met African American country blues. Some people even push the date up to 1952, when Clyde McPhatter recorded the first of several versions of Stick McGhee’s “Wine Spo-De-O-Dee.” Despite all this, sometime in the 1920's rock & roll music became popular and a whole new genre for people to enjoy. -
Rock Around the Clock is Recorded
On April 12, 1954, Bill Haley and the Comets recorded “Rock Around The Clock.” This song is often called the Declaration of Independence for the social and cultural revolution of rock and roll. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgdufzXvjqw) -
Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley is Released
This song was featured in the Elvis movie of the same name, where Elvis plays a wrongly accused convict who becomes a star when he gets out. "Jailhouse Rock" was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who also wrote "Hound Dog," which also became a huge hit when Elvis recorded it. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj0Rz-uP4Mk)
