Music of 1930 - 1945

By Alicia Brungs

The 1930’s and 1940’s in American music was a very important era in our history. There were many musicians that helped open the doorway for different styles of music. In the 1930’s, music was evolving into a more mainstream form of entertainment. Big Bands and Swing bands were popular. Folk music was popular during the depression and the dust bowl. African American’s were being broadcast on the radio, showcasing their underground world of jazz and blues. Some of the many musicians that formed during the 1930’s and 1940’s were Benny Goodman, The Dorsey Brothers, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dizzy Gillespie along with some of my favorites that I decided to write about.

Folk Music

Woody Guthrie, singer and songwriter, was a driving force behind American folk music and culture in the 30’s and 40’s. “Woodrow Wilson Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912, in Okemah, Oklahoma”. During the dust bowl years Woody developed a desire to travel. While making his way to California, hungry, and looking for work Woody would do odd jobs. Including, playing music on the street and in clubs for money. In 1937, he obtained a job at a radio station playing traditional songs and even some of his original work. One of the songs Woody wrote that represented the horrible conditions the dust bowl created was “Talking Dust Bowl Blues”. He also wrote a very important song to our nation, “This Land is Your Land” which is on nearly every popular child’s cd and in many of our hearts today. Woody then went to New York, where he formed The Almanacs. They fought hardly for the things they believed in such as Unions, the Communist Party, and Peace. “The Almanacs helped to establish folk music as a viable commercial genre within the popular music industry.” (Woody Guthrie-Biography. (n.d.) In 1945, Woody married and had four children, Cathy, Joady, Nora Lee, and Arlo. Arlo continues to play in his father’s footprints by touring the world singing about the world, being happy, and anti-war sentiments today.

Jazz and Blues

During the 1930’s, Cab Calloway helped pave the way for African-Americans to be heard in the music industry. Cabell Calloway III was born December 25, 1907 in Rochester, New York. Cab knew in high school he was going to be an entertainer. He began playing the drums and formed a small band with kids from his school. Cab Calloway was one of the most influential artists that made jazz music popular in the 1930’s. His first recording was “Gotta Darn Good Reason Now” in 1930. In1931, Cab became famous for his he-de-hos in his songs, which came from a time when he was singing and forgot the lyrics. Cab wrote his first big hit, “Minnie the Moocher”. Cab continued to play and become more popular. One of his favorite places to play was the Cotton Club. Cab and his band performed regularly at The Cotton Club during the 30’s. The Cotton Club was known for allowing only the famous, wealthiest, and most renowned clientele. “When Lucky Strike, a cigarette manufacturer, sponsored the band on a nationwide radio show in the U.S., Cab, as leader, became the first African-American to break through the network color barrier.” (http://www.cabcallowayllc.com/biography/index.php. (n.d.)

Country, Western, and Bluegrass

Another major influence in music during the 1930’s and 1940’s was Country, Western, and Bluegrass. During the 20’s it was considered Hillbilly music and was primarily in the Appalachian Mountains but began to gain popularity around the United States in the 30’s.

One of the groups that helped to advance the Country, folk, and bluegrass music was the Carter Family. They are a very interesting family. It started with Sara, Alvin Pleasant (A.P.) Carter, and Sara’s cousin Maybelle. Maybelle “had already developed her own style called the Carter scratch, where she could play both the melody and the rhythm on the guitar. It was like having two instruments in one." (Country Music’s First Family. (n.d.) When the Carter’s began having kids, they were all included in the concerts and recordings. The Carter’s were not extremely popular among all audiences at first but they became popular as they continued to play. The Carter’s recorded more than 300 songs. Woody Guthrie, Earl Scruggs, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash have all recorded songs that the Carter’s wrote. The Carter’s continued to play even after Sara and A.P. split up until 1943 when Sara moved to California. Sara’s cousin, Maybelle took her daughters Helen, Anita, and June to Nashville and continued to perform. June continued her playing music, which lead her to Johnny Cash.

These musicians helped shape the wonderful music we have seen throughout the decades. They opened barriers due to skin color or stereotypes. Because of music we can express our feelings when we can’t seem to talk about it. Music is a wonderful thing.

References

Biography. (n.d.) Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Website: http://www.cabcallowayllc.com/biography/index.php

Country music’s first family: New Book Chronicles Legacy of the Influential Carter Family. (n.d.) Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Website; http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/jul/carter/index.html

"Carter Family." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved March 05, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CarterFam.html

The carter family. (n.d.) Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Website: http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/node/190

The people history: 1940’s music section. (n.d.) Retrieved March 4, 2009 from Website: http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/40smusic.html

Vaillant, D. (2002). Sounds of whiteness: local radio, racial formation, and public culture in Chicago, 1921-1935. American Quarterly, 5(1), 25-66.

Woody Guthrie-Biography. (n.d.), Retrieved March 5, 2009 from Website: http://woodyguthrie.org/biography/biography1.htm