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Category: Jazz

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

Billy Bragg, Skiffle Historian and Singer, Visits the Library July 21

Posted by: Stephen Winick

This blog post about the singer-songwriter Billy Bragg is part of a series called “Hidden Folklorists,” which examines the folklore work of surprising people, including people better known for other pursuits. Billy Bragg will be here for a book talk, July 21 at 7:00 pm in the Mumford Room of the James Madison Memorial Building. …

Posted in: AFC History, AFC Publications, African American History, African Americans, Alan Lomax, Benjamin A. Botkin, Benjamin Botkin Folklife Lecture Series, England, Folk Music, Folksong, Hidden Folklorists, Jazz, Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter), Popular Culture

A man playing a guitar and singing to a close crowd of a dozen or so men and women

The Painful Birth of Blues and Jazz

Posted by: Stephanie Hall

One hundred years ago this month, February 26, 1917, what is generally acknowledged as the first recording of jazz was released. “Livery Stable Blues,” performed by the Original Dixieland Jass Band [1] was a best-selling record for Victor, but is a problematic “first” as it is a recording of a white band performing an African …

Posted in: African American History, African Americans, Blues, Folk Music, Folksong, Jazz