Texas A&M International University 3 2

Key Songwriters and Composers

• Irving Berlin

  • Wrote "God Bless America"

  • Wrote "White Christmas"

  • Known for contributions to musical theater

• Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein

  • Co-writers of the musical The Sound of Music

• Matt King

  • Considered for popularity with songs like "White Christmas"

• Tony Bennett

  • Famous for the song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"

• Sammy Davis Jr.

  • Known for the song "Mister Bojangles"

• Robert Johnson

  • Creator of the song "Crossroads", associated with Delta Blues

• Louis Jordan

  • Performed the song "Caledonia"

• Louis Prima

  • Known for the song "I Ain't Got Nobody"

Historical Context

• Swing Era: 1935 to 1946

  • Influenced by the cultural changes in music styles

• Post-War America

  • Changes in society following World War II

    • Increased availability of vaccines, refrigerators, and TVs

    • Development of the interstate system

Notable Artists and Contributions

• Hank Williams

  • A honky tonk artist who died at age 30 due to alcoholism

  • Known for the song "Hey, Good Lookin'"

• Bill Haley and His Comets

  • Famous for the song "Rock Around the Clock"

• Jerry Lee Lewis

  • Notable for the song "Great Balls of Fire"

• Roy Rogers

  • Another iconic cowboy figure alongside Gene Autry

Music Genres and Forms

• 12-Bar Blues Form

  • Structured as A A B A

Important Changes in Music Industry

• Transition in the buying public towards teenagers

• Rise of influential figures like Alan Freed, who:

  • Was a significant white DJ in rock and roll

  • Can remember the first major rock and roll concert

Major Record Labels

• Columbia, RCA, Atlantic, Capitol, and Sun

• Chess Records known for blues artists

Cultural References

• Ed Sullivan Show

  • A TV show that featured Elvis Presley, prohibiting him from shaking his hips

• Grand Ole Opry

  • Located in Nashville, Tennessee

Noteworthy Locations

• Tin Pan Alley

  • The area in New York known for music publishing and songwriting

Fun Facts and Trivia

• Sputnik considered the first artificial satellite launched by Russia

  • It spurred competition during the Space Race