The History of Swing

The Swing Era was the period of

time around 1935–1946.

Swing music is a music that is commonly known as an upbeat, joyful with a driving forward momentum. The music is usually in 4/4 or 4/8 timing with the emphasis on the even beats. In its purest form it is a flexible platform from which individual musicians can be creative while still contributing harmoniously to the whole.

1935On August 21st, 1935 the Goodmans Band arrived at the Palomar Ballroom and opened the performance with the only songs that were positively received by the audiences.

Soon after the Palomar Ballroom performance, and the media's commentary on the performance, Benny Goodman's band has taken the top 3 spots on the record charts in California. Benny Goodman was now being billed as the "King of Swing" and the Palomar Ballroom performance of August 21st, 1935 would later mark the official start of the Swing Era.

Swing jazz soon came to dominate the American social world. Every country club, night club, ballroom, radio, and the background music of the movies was filled with swing jazz. People foxtrotted to the sweet swing jazz tunes, and people were Lindy Hopping to the hot swing jazz tunes.

"Begin the Beguine" written by Cole Porter, recorded by Artie Shaw

"Bei Mir Bist Du Schön" by the Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra

"Body and Soul" by Coleman Hawkins, music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Frank Eyton, Edward Heyman and Robert Sour

"Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie "Sun Valley Serenade"

"Cherokee" by Charlie Barnet, music and lyrics by Ray Noble

"Daddy From Georgia Way" recorded by Bob Chester and His Orchestra on Columbia Records, lyrics and music by Daisy Lawton, a pen name for Gloria Parker

"Goody Goody" by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (with vocalist Helen Ward)

"HEY! Here Comes That Mood" recorded by Vincent Lopez, music and lyrics by Gloria Parker

Some Popular Swing Songs were;

During World War 2, swing remained popular, and both large and small ensembles toured with the USO to entertain at Army and Navy camps. The USO brought a piece of home and normality to the soldiers and sailors dealing with the stress of war, away from home and family.

After World War 2 and of what became known as the Great Depression, people did not want to be reminded of either of them. Swing, which became popular during the depression and was so popular when the war started, became a reminder of those bad years. With the bad memories and the bad emotions that swing music brought back to mind, people simply stopped listening.

With that the Swing Era was dead.

Bibliography linked here - http://padlet.com/india/swingmusic

By India Wilkes