Think you know everything there is to know about music? Prepare to be blown away as we take a look at some of the most interesting, unbelievable facts about musicians and the music industry!
1. The 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' is published;
The Atlantic published abolitionist Julia Ward Howe's poem "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" in 1861. The now-iconic song became associated with the Civil War and influenced future generations of activists, according to Dominic Tierney of The Atlantic.
2. Thomas Edison invents the phonograph;
Thomas Edison revealed his latest creation, the phonograph, in 1877. While there had been other devices that could record and play audio, the phonograph was far more reliable, making music accessible to the masses. "It forever transformed the face of music," wrote Clive Thompson of Smithsonian Magazine.
3. Billboard magazine hits newsstands;
Billboard magazine published its first issue in November 1894. While it was initially focused on the advertising and poster printing industry, it eventually shifted gears into the music industry. In July 1940, it developed its first Music Popularity Chart, which went on to become the guide that listed the most popular songs and albums every week.
4. Duke Ellington gives the swing era its name;
The jazz composer, musician, and orchestra leader wrote the song that would become the namesake to the swing era, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," in 1932. Big band swing music became the most popular genre of music in the United States for the next 15 years.
5.Frank Sinatra performs to crazed teen fans in Times Squaren;
America got its first glimpse of teen music fandom when Frank Sinatra performed at New York City's Paramount Theater on Dec. 30, 1942. Frenzied "bobby-soxers" flooded Times Square for the occasion and a riot broke out. The event drove the music industry to shift its marketing efforts to adolescent fans, rather than 30-to-50-year-olds.
6. Ike Turner records first rock 'n' roll song;
The first rock 'n' roll song, "Rocket 88," was recorded by Ike Turner in 1951 in Memphis, Tennessee. Saxophone player Jackie Brenston sang lead vocals on the track, which was released under his name, according to Christopher John Farley of Time magazine.
INTERESTING Music History
Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Fisk Jubilee Singers (1909.
'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' establishes the Black spiritual in music history;
An African American a cappella group, The Fisk Jubilee, recorded "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" in 1909. The song was instrumental in preserving African American spiritual folk songs in American history, according to Norman Abjorensen, author of "Historical Dictionary of Popular Music."
The original song sheet is housed in the Library of Congress.
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