312: It Don’t Mean a Thing


Duke Ellington and his orchestra perform “Take the ‘A’ Train” in the 1943 film Reville with Beverly.

Electronic amplification allowed singers to sing more softly, by simply getting closer to the microphone, producing a more intimate sound. This style, known as “crooning” soon dominated popular music.

Hollywood musicals of the 1930s, and especially Fred Astaire, popularized dancing and dance bands, which led to the creation of “big bands” and swing, a new style of jazz music.

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Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening Theme

“My Blue Heaven”
Composed in 1927 by Walter Donaldson and George A. Whiting. Public domain.

Closing Theme



Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

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