Big Band Music in USA | Musical Stalwarts of all Time

Back in the 1920s and 1930s, the swing and big bands were all rages. People from various walks of life visited dance halls and tapped their feet to the tunes of swing music. This draws our attention to the fact that big bands played a significant role in bolstering the popularity of swing. Featuring instruments like trumpets, saxophones, and trombones, big band music in the USA was all about rhythmic tracks driving the spirits of the audience. Owing to the talents of dedicated band leaders, these large orchestras reached the peak of success and popularity. From strategizing  arrangements to hiring proficient instrumentalists, big band leaders were the musical architects in the truest sense. Would you like to reminisce about the good old days of swing and the big band? Let us discuss some of the greatest band personalities in this article.

1. Duke Ellington - Spanning over 50 years, Ellington’s career is filled with milestones and achievements. Not only did the legend compose and arrange scores of music, but his African-American identity also marked the beginning of racial congeniality in the realm of jazz music. In the 1920s, Ellington formed a band with Rex Stewart, the cornetist, Johnny Hodges, the saxophonist, and Cootie Williams on the trumpets. The sextet recorded unforgettable songs and performed worldwide in the 1930s. Tune into Swing Street Radio, one of the leading big band radio stations, to enjoy hits like "Cotton Tail", "Concerto for Cootie", and "Ko-Ko".

2.Tommy Dorsey - It was Tommy Dorsey who ruled the swing era between 1935 and 1945. Apart from being a noted trombonist, Dorsey improvised the swing style by incorporating novelty and ballads. Although Tommy started his musical journey by forming a band with his brother, the two soon parted ways. To create an identity of his own, Tommy Dorsey organized a separate orchestra under the Decca Records. Singers like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby featured on the vocals for this orchestra. His ability to constantly improvise made Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra one of the treasured big bands of all time.

3. Count Basie - The first African-American musical personality who bagged the Grammy Award. Born as William James Basie, the legend got his nickname “Count” on a radio show. Although he played in the vaudevillian circuit initially, Basie reached the helm of popularity when he formed his band in the mid-1930s. Noted for its swing style, rhythmic section, and savy solos, the orchestra revolutionized the landscape of big band music in the USA. Along with leading one of the most popular music bands of those times, Basie himself was an outstanding pianist.

4. Benny Goodman - It is not without a reason that Goodman was hailed to be the “King of Swing”. Being a commendable clarinetist, the legend contributed heavily to altering the scope of swing and big band music. It was only at the age of twelve, Goodman made his professional debut. He became a part of the Ben Pollack band and recorded several scores with them. The inception of Benny Goodman and his Orchestra coincided with the heydays of swing jazz. The artist took this musical shift in his stride and gave back to back hits like "It's Been So Long," "Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)," and "The Glory of Love”. These scores feature on  big band radio stations even to this day. 

Conclusion - The emergence of different kinds of music styles has overshadowed the charm of classic swing and jazz today. With the millennial taking interest in other genres, swing and big band music are now limited to the older generation. In this connection, this write-up has tried to revive the memories of formidable swing personalities thereby enlightening the younger people on the essence of this musical style.

How Did Swing Music Withstand the Blow of Great Depression?

While The Great Depression is considered to be a blot in the economic history of America, this period of crisis fuelled the development and popularity of swing, a subgenre of jazz. It was during this time, jazz, as a music style, touched the core of people’s lives. Though the genre defines and is integral to Americal cultural heritage, jazz has its roots branched out in many directions. The style is characterized by African traditional elements, European military musical essence, and American folk expression. The greatness of jazz is still alive and felt across the world today. Jazz lovers can tune into Swing Street Radio to enjoy old time radio recording in the USA. However, with the setting in of the depression, cultural ecosystems of the country saw a major transformation in sound and appeal of jazz. Despite the economy shattering like never before, Americans found their perfect solace in the sound of swing. 

Factors Leading to the Inception of Swing

The topsy turvy condition of the American economy threw several recording companies out of business. The yesteryear jazz pioneers were in crisis due to the loss of work. At this juncture, Harlem dance halls saw a steady influx of visitors who enjoyed shaking their legs to the big band music. These developments sowed seeds for the swing genre, wherein the dance bands performed before the public in ballrooms. The Great Depression surely pushed people to financial turmoil but kindled their interest in music that rose above any kind of racial and social divisions. Swing and big band music swept the mass off its feet and wielded a revolutionary effect.

The Popularity of Radio As an Entertainment Medium

The popularity of radio as a medium of entertainment skyrocketed during the 1930s. Radios became a common fixture in every household. Even the political leaders would appear on radio shows to influence people and boost their morale. On the other hand, with the recording industry struggling to find its lost ground, companies began selling radio on a large scale. This marked the beginning of people’s exposure to various kinds of music. The craze for swing and big band crossed the boundaries of Harlem balls and pervaded into the radio platform. Amidst the economic disorder, Americans found peace and recreation in big band radio that played swing music non-stop. Overall, people regained their lost vigor in the beats of big band music.

The Rise of New Musical Stars

While the previous jazz styles were dominated by African-American musicians, the swing was improvised and popularised by white composers and arrangers. As the Great Depression dismantled the barriers among race, class, section, and age, the white people had now greater access to swing music. With the popularity of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong taking a back seat, new musicians like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller came into the limelight. It is worth mentioning that the collaboration between Benny Goodman and Fletcher Henderson symbolized racial tolerance and socio-cultural harmony back then. 

Swing at the Peak of Fame

Even Hollywood could not resist the influence of swing music. The incorporation of swing in movies and TV shows opened a new avenue of entertainment. During the late 1930s, when the economic crisis was on its last legs, the recording industry banked upon talented swing singers to strengthen its business once again. More than fifty million records were sold in 1939 alone.

Conclusion - Swing and big band music offered an escapade to the worn-out Americans amid an economic disarray. Do you want to enjoy the timeless music and swing along with it once again? Then tune into Swing Street Radio and enjoy old time radio recording in the USA.