01 Swanee - Al Jolson 1920
02 Crazy Blues - Mamie Smith 1921
03 Muscle Shoals Blues - Fats Waller 1922
04 Charleston - Arthur Gibbs & His Gang 1923
05 See See Rider Blues - Ma Rainey with Louis Armstrong 1924
06 St. Louis Blues - Bessie Smith with Louis Armstrong 1925
07 Muskrat Ramble - Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five 1926
08 I Ain’t Got Nobody - Sophie Tucker & Miff Mole’s Molers 1927
09 Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) - Bing Crosby & Dorsey Brothers 1928
10 Singin’ In The Rain - Cliff Edwards (a.k.a. Ukelele Ike) 1929
At the turn of the century music halls and vaudeville theatres provided the soundtrack of the times with ragtime proving popular in the late 1800s and by the 1900s jazz was becoming popular in the dancehalls and speakeasies. The influences of New Orleans was producing what became known as Dixieland (popularised by King Oliver and others) and later as Trad.
By the end of 1918, Germany and the Allies ended the fighting in World War 1, when the armistice was signed. At the start of 1919 the US Congress prohibited the sale of alcohol bringing in Prohibition and the early years were a period of growth and prosperity until the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
The 1920s was often referred to as the ‘Roaring 20s’ and ‘The Jazz Age’. New music styles were introduced and jazz became a popular form of music. Apart from the dancehalls and speakeasies, radio and theatres were becoming influential.
Many artists proved influential on the jazz scene including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton. Female singers like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Sophie Tucker were bringing their powerhouse vocals in front of the bands of the day.
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