Who Dat Sound and Who
Dat Music Productions have one objective for our site...
Celebrating and honoring those musicians that Came before us...
Listening to and learning from those who are performing now...
Taking what you learn and making it better... we are also Celebrating
the Great American Songbook...
SO...Put down your cell phones, stop texting and pick
up a trombone, clarinet, saxophone, learn how to play you never know
what you are capable of unless you try.
Short History of Contemporary
Music In America
In the era of 1910 through 1940, the great majority of standards were
written. In that period (before cable television, the internet,
texting...radio was in its infancy and the primary institution was
called, "Tin Pan Alley". This was a group of the major publishers
located in New York City that would publish the songs of the leading
composers of the day. To demonstrate their songs, pianist were hired to
work at the publisher's stores to play the songs for prospective buyers,
which included Broadway producers, radio artists, etc. George Gershwin,
Cole Porter started their careers in this manner, playing other
composers music. Imagine a world without the peripherals we have today.
Most families had pianos in their homes. So the need for the published
music sheets was a necessity to the family.
According to Wikipedia:
The music of America reflects the country's multi-ethnic population
through a diverse array of styles. It is a mixture of music influenced
by West African, Irish, Scottish, Mexican, and Cuban music traditions
among others. The country's most internationally renowned genres are
Jazz, Blues, Country, Ragtime, Hip Hop, Barbershop, Pop, Experimental,
Techno, House, Dance, Boogaloo, Salsa, and Rock and Roll. The United
States has the worlds largest market with a total retail value of
4,483.8 million dollars in 2012, and its music is heard around the
world. Since the beginning of the 20th century, some Forms of American
popular music have gained a near global audience.
Native Americans were the earliest inhabitants of the land that is today
known as the United States and played its first music. Beginning in the
17th century, immigrants from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain,
Germany and France began arriving in large numbers, bringing with them
new styles and instruments. African slaves brought musical traditions,
and each subsequent wave of immigrants contributed to a melting pot.
Much of modern popular music can trace its roots to the emergence in the
late 19th century of African American blues and the growth of gospel
music in the 1920s. The African American basis for popular music used
elements derived from European and indigenous music's. There are also
strong African roots in the music tradition of the original white
settlers, such as country and bluegrass. The United States has also seen
documented folk music and recorded popular music produced in the ethnic
styles of
the Ukrainian, Irish, Scottish, Polish, Hispanic and
Jewish communities,
among others.
Many American cities and towns have vibrant music scenes which, in turn,
support a number of regional musical styles. Along with musical centers
such as Philadelphia, Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, New
Orleans, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago,
Miami, Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, and Los Angeles, many smaller cities
such as Asbury Park, New Jersey have produced distinctive styles of
music. The Cajun and Creole traditions in Louisiana music, the folk and
popular styles of Hawaiian music, and the bluegrass and old time
music of the Southeastern states are a few examples of diversity in
American music.
That is a pretty rich history for America. So just browse through our
site and listen and see if you Got The Spirit!
NY Nick
Creative and Music Director
WhoDatSound.com
Who Dat Music Productions