With this show, we explain just how the American ‘Popular Music’ form fell into place.  

BE FOREWARNED! Some of the language on these songs is thoroughly inappropriate by today's standards. We believe that an ACCURATE portrayal of history is necessary if we are to learn anything from it, though, so we present these songs with no editing.

The most significant characteristics that caused American popular music to develop as it did are both social and technical. Socially, race relations were a major factor. African Americans played a huge role in America’s cultural development, but until the onset of jazz music, America remained in denial of this fact. Technically, the newfound ability to distribute recorded sound caused an entire industry to develop. Songs were required for distribution, and facets from all three of our previous shows provided source material for the recording industry. So, give us one hour and we will do our absolute best to explain just how the America’s popular music came into being.

Here’s a list of songs featured in this program;

Jump Jim Crow – Michelle Shocked
The Washington Post March – United States Marine Band
The Laughing Song – George Washington Johnson
Reuben Haskin’s Ride on a Cyclone Auto – Len Spencer and Harry Spencer
The Preacher and the Bear – Arthur Collins
Samuel – Bert Williams
Nobody – Bert Williams
Let’s Take an Old-Fashioned Walk – Ada Jones and Billy Murray
On the 5:15 – The American Quartet with Billy Murray
Yankee Doodle Boy - Billy Murray (a George M. Cohan song)
Swanee – Al Jolson (a George Gershwin song)
April Showers – Al Jolson
Are You Lonesome Tonight? – Al Jolson