2. 1900’s:
During this decade music was still mainly classical,
consisting of artists such as George Marie Lloyd,
Dan Leno and Little Tich.
During this particular decade music hall was very
popular. Music hall is a type of British theatrical
entertainment which was highly popular during
these time. They used to play a mixture of popular
songs, but also involved putting on comedy shows
and specialty acts. This type of entertainment called
“vaudevilles” which originated from saloon bars
within public houses during the 1830s which were
highly popular and therefore evolved into becoming
music halls.
3. 1910s:
The first movie stunt appeared during this time, a
man jumped into the Hudson River from a burning
balloon. During this time credits began to appear at
the beginning of videos.
During this time, New York City companies paid
musicians to create songs. One of the best was
George M. Cahan who wrote his songs about the
war. Many people who tend to play Jazz music as it
was highly popular which came from blues and
ragtime. Music was also composed on Broadway
and entertainment could be found in theatres.
4. 1920s:
Jazz music further gained popularity in America and
worldwide by the 1920s, new dance routines were
created to be performed with this music. During the
mid 1920s, jazz was being played in theatres and
dance halls all over the country, also marching
bands tended to play jazz music. In its early years,
jazz was referred to as the “devils music” by many
of the public. Many public dance halls, clubs and
tearooms opened in the cities, which became highly
popular. 50 new musicals opened in just one
season, a significant amount of the public paid up
to £3.50 for a seat at the musicals.
5. 1930s:
• The 1930s was significant as there was a large
development in terms of radio, film and various other
technologies. Notably, the bass guitar was invented in
1936 Paul Tutmarc, which is commonly used in rock
music today. During this particular time, people burned
phonographs to keep warm due to it being the great
depression, therefore the invention of radio helped
music survive.
• Swing bands made up to 15 to 20 musicians, who were
highly popular in this time due to the sophistication
evident within the music. It also include swing dancing,
and managed to lift peoples spirits after the great
depression which was highly needed. Duke Ellington
was an American composer at this time who could play
piano and was a bandleader of jazz orchestras.
6. 1930s:
• Blues music began develop during this time,
which expressed the depression of American
people, originating from southern black slaves.
Robert Johnson was musician who played blues
music, however this type of music was hardly
ever recorded as it wasn’t popular.
• Country Western were normally simplistic songs
played on banjos, guitars and fiddles. This type of
music is still popular today with artists such as
Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift.
7. 1940s:
• As blues music began to get more popular, artists such as
Basie’s band became closely associated with the blues music.
• The boogie-woogie is an African American style of piano
based blues music which became popular during the 1940s,
but originated much earlier. Mostly, boogie-woogie tunes are
twelve bar blues, however the style has been applied to
popular songs such as “Swanee River”.
A commonly used boogie-woogie bassline:
8. 1940s:
• Frank Sinatra was one of the best male selling pop
artists of the 1940’s along with Glenn Miller who was a
trombonist/bandleader in the mid 1940s.
• Pure Jazz was very popular at this time along with Pop
as shown through Sinatra.
• Western music became popular through this period
due to Hollywood movies which often citied cowboys
as the heroes. Therefore, film producers began putting
folk music within the movies.
• Some genres even merged, and by the mid 1940s
Western swing became popular which included rough
vocals, a acoustic guitar, fiddle and string bass. Usually
focusing upon the themes of love, adultery, loss,
alcoholism and self-pity.
9. 1950s:
• Rock, Pop, Swing, Blues and Country dominated this decades
music.
• Pop music took over from swing, a vocal driven style which
often used orchestras to back the vocalists, including big
voiced singers such as Mitch Miller.
• Artists such as Elvis Presley began to emerge, a musical style
which originated in the United States.
• The growth in popularity of the electric guitar during this time
was evident with artists such as Chuck Berry who was seen as
one of the founders of Rock, making the genre distinctive,
introducing guitar solos and entertainment through
performance.
• Elvis Presley soon became the face of Rock and Roll,
appearing on various TV programmes with his ever chart
topping records. His performance style enormously popular
and controversial during this period of time.
10. 1960s:
• At the beginning of the 60s, rock and pop
dominate, the trend continuing through from the
1950s.
• In this era, pop rock, beat, psychedelic rock, blues
rock and folk rock were the most popular.
• The Beatles originated from England, Liverpool,
widely regarded as the most influential band of
rock and roll. Their sophisticated song writing
skills and unique style lead to ultimate popularity.
11. The Beatles, originally named the Blackjacks, then the Quarrymen were
formed in 1957 by John Lennon aged 16. They increased their popularity
through playing at clubs across a three year period, soon impressing Brian
Epstein who later moulded them into professional performers through his
management.
Their first hit “Love Me Do” gained extensive popularity within the UK in
late 1962. Acquiring the name “the Fab Four” their fan base grew across
England, becoming known as international superstars through frequently
producing number one albums. Their popularity soon spread to America as
they become the best-selling music artists according to the RIAA, achieving
countless amounts of awards such as Grammys, Academy Awards, Ivor
Novello Awards and many more.
12. Other influential artists such as The Rolling
Stones formed in 1962, best known for their
long hair with youthful/rebellious tendencies
