And is Criminalized

Jazz Meets White America

1920’s and early 30’s

Jazz travels on the riverboats up the Mississippi into major centres in the northern part of the country

-the shipping industry also brings jazz New York City

Jazz Moves from New Orleans

ProhibitionWhy all the trouble?

Alcohol was made illegal, but it didn’t make it disappear.

Alcohol is a party favourite for the youth

Alcohol banned in the USA

So if there was still a demand for alcohol, who would supply it?

Organized Crime This is how Mobsters, like

Al Capone became so powerful

Recognize this name?

If you wanted a drink, where would you get one?

“Speakeasies” illegal clubs. Being caught in one was against the law

Remember this episode…

Where do musicians find work? Music is another party favourite for the youth. Youth are always trying new music first and the

new arrival of jazz to the Northern USA and Canada make it the popular music among the youth

Musicians are hired to play at “speakeasies” so young people could drink and dance the night away. They were working for criminals.

-jazz becomes associated with crime much like “gangsta rap”of today.

Jelly Roll Morton for example…

-jazz also creates new forms of dancing involving hip swinging, touching and sweating and is viewed as “indecent”

It gets worse…

Provocative

And “from the jungle”

Racism -racism by adult society drives much of the

dissention toward this new music and leads to the jazz being outlawed, musicians being arrested, and record burning.

Problem #3

White musicians begin to find inspiration in this new black music

 Bix Beiderbeck,

George Gershwin

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Recorded the first jazz record ever

“The Darktown Strutters Ball”

Paul Whiteman

Black musicians struggle to get record deals Fletcher Henderson was a New York Rival to Whiteman and

had a far superior band

Meanwhile