And is Criminalized
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
Prohibition
Alcohol was made illegal, but it didn’t make it disappear. Alcohol is a party favourite for the youth
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
If you wanted a drink, where would you get one? “Speakeasies” illegal clubs. Being caught in one was against the law
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”
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.
White musicians begin to find inspiration in this new black music Bix Beiderbeck, George Gershwin
Recorded the first jazz record ever “The Darktown Strutters Ball”
Black musicians struggle to get record deals Fletcher Henderson was a New York Rival to Whiteman and had a far superior band