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Music has played an important role in African-American culture for a very long time. The roots of jazz music can be traced back to slave work songs in the 18th century. The leader of the song would sing out a line and others would sing back in response.
Slaves would also sing songs called "spirituals" that expressed their religious beliefs and their aspirations for freedom. -
During the 19th century, composer Scott Joplin combines newly introduced European composing styles with the music of the African-American community, which becomes known as "ragtime." Pianist Tommy Turpin writes Harlem Rag, the first known ragtime composition in 1892
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The city of New Orleans played a large role in the evolution of jazz music around this time. The people of New Orleans came from many different cultures and they all merged their musical traditions together over time. The music styles and genres of blues, ragtime, and marching band fused together to create jazz.
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Jazz musician and singer Louis Armstrong is born in New Orleans.
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The word "jazz" is used for the first time in print.
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Billie "Lady Day" Holiday is born in Baltimore, Maryland. She would later become one of the most influential jazz singers to date.
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In the 1920s, African-American musicians began to move to other cities in America to find better opportunities to share their music, bringing the sounds of jazz and blues with them. This new music style was embraced by the younger generation in America at the time and caused them to rebel against their parents and their old-fashioned views, especially young women who would become known as "flappers."
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Radios and record players became widely available in stores in the 1920s. This caused a spike in the popularity and growth of jazz music.
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"Big band swing," a new style of jazz music emerged in the 1930s, becoming the most popular music of the decade and the next. Swing music's energy and beat made it become extremely popular for dancing.
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In the 1940s, many jazz musicians are drafted to fight in World War II, which makes it difficult for bands to find musicians to perform in the dance halls.
