Before the 1950s::
About Jazz:: The Origins of Jazz are contributed to New Orleans, but similar styles of
music where heard in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago. Jazz was a blend
of traits of black folk music with European classical music, the rhythms of
ragtime with the minor chord voicings of blues. Early jazz was performed in
marching bands or by solo piano. Improvisation first started as
ornamentation of the melody and soloing began in about 1925. In the 1950s,
Jazz began losing popularity with the invention of TV, even more in with
Rock N Roll in the 60s and was almost completely eliminated by 70s disco.
Jazz Styles::
Pre 1900s - Ragtime
1900 - Folk Blues, New Orleans Style
1920 - Hot Jazz, Chicago Style, Boogie Blues
1930 - Swing, Kansas City Style, Classic Blues, Gypsy Jazz
1940 - Bebop, Rhythm and Blues, Vocalese
The 1950s::
Rock N' Roll originated in the 1950s originated from a blend of southern blues
and gospel music with a strong backbeat and became popular with American
teens. Popular artists of the time were Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee
Lewis.
Jazz in the 1950s - Mainstream Jazz, Cool Jazz, Southern Blues, Hard Bop,
Bossa Nova
The 1960s::
In the 1960s, popular artist included Elvis, Bobby Darin, Neil Sedaka, Jerry
Lee Lewis, Paul Anka, Del Shannon, and Frankie Avalon. The Tamla Motown
Record Company specialized in black rhythm and blues aiding artists such as
Gladys Knight, the Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Smoky Robinson, James
Brown, and Jimi Hendrix. Also, folk music was revived by artists such as Bob
Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. The Beach Boys were popular amongst
teenagers and the Beatles became popular with their innovative rock.
Because of the drug scene in the 1960s, there was a major change in music
creating acid rock and psychedelic rock. A group that emerged from this
change in music was the Grateful Dead. Also in this decade was Woodstock
which was a three day musical with 400,000 hippies, peace, love,
happiness, and LSD.
The modular synthesizer (a keyboard) was created in 1960 by Robert Moog
and Donald Buchla. Computers were beginning to be used in music
composition and by the end of the decade, pop music also began using
computers and synthesizers.
Jazz in the 1960s - Modal Jazz, Free Jazz, Soul Jazz, Groove
The 1970s::
In the 1970s pop spilt into styles such as soft rock, hard rock, country rock,
folk rock, punk rock, shock rock and disco. Popular artists of this decade
were Aerosmith, the Beegees, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Led
Zeppelin, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, and The Who. Easy
Listening also started to become a popular genre with artists such as Bob
Marley.
Jazz in the 1970s - Blues Funk, Fusion, Modern Mainstream
The 1980s::
In the 1980s cable tv was born as was MTV. Dancing was also
revolutionized with MTV with slam dancing, lombada, and break dancing.
Pop, rock, new wave, punk, country, and rap and hip hop were popular
genres of the 80s. Popular artists were Madonna, Milli Vanilli, MC Hammer,
and Vanilla Ice.
Jazz in the 1980s - Afro-Cuban Jazz, Post Bop, return of Classic Blues, Acid
Jazz
The 1990s::
In the 90s, more genres of music became popular. Country, grunge, r&b, hip
hop, metal, pop, salsa, techno, and classical became popular. Popular
artists were Boyz II Men, Alanis Morrisette, Janet Jackson, Garth Brooks,
Celine Dion, Madonna. The Spice Girls were a group created for sex appeal
which began to gain importance.
CD burners began causing the failure of recording industries and several
lawsuits occurred with companies such as Napster.
Jazz in the 1990s - Hard Bop Revival, Classicism, Smooth Jazz, Retro Swing
