 | The Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776. |
| First U.S. patent issued in 1790 to the technological boom with
approximately 440,000 patents being issued from 1860-1890. |
| The Louisiana Purchase - 1803. |
| Introduction of the steamboat in 1807. |
| The War of 1812. |
| The recognition of the new Latin American countries by President James
Monroe in 1822 including the exchange of ministers with them. |
| The inclusion of six new states between 1816 - 1821. |
| The electrical telegraphy in 1844. |
| The rotary press and paper-folding machinery 1846-1856. |
| The expansion of major railways in the 1850's & 60's. |
| The Civil War of April 12. 1861 - April 9, 1865. |
| The Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863. |
| The invention of the typewriter in 1867. |
| A telephone instrument in 1876. |
| The talking machine/phonograph in 1877. |
| Electric light in 1880. |
| A wax cylinder and sapphire stylus improve sound in 1886. |
| Music from a flat disc stamped out by machine in 1887. |
| Edison's phonograph is manufactured for sale to the public in 1888. |
| The invention of the adding machine in 1888. |
| The Kinetograph motion picture camera is built in 1891. |
| Flat phonograph disc competes with the cylinder in 1894. |
| Player Piano in 1897. |
| The invention of the cash register in 1897. |
| Enrico Caruso, an opera tenor, makes his first record in 1902. |
| The U.S. Navy installs radio telephones aboard ships in 1902. |
| The airplane in 1903. |
| A program of voice and music is broadcast in the U.S. in 1906. |
| The Model-T in 1908 |
| The portable phonograph is manufactured in 1913. |
| The Original Dixieland Jass Band has a sensational release of the very first jass/jazz recording on Victor
& Columbia Records in 1917. |
| The short-wave radio is invented in 1919. |
| The first broadcasting stations are opened in 1920. (KDKA in
Pittsburgh, PA.) |
| The New Orleans Rhythm Kings record in 1922. |
| The Eveready Hour is the first sponsored radio program in 1924. |
| U.S. Radio Act declares public ownership of the airwaves in 1927.
|
America's Music?
What is the music of America? A combination of folk, classic, military and
other songs from many different and diverse nations who's people came to America
voluntarily and involuntarily as colonists, indentured servants, slaves,
immigrants and others from the 1600's to today. America's music is still
evolving today and will obviously continue to do so as new artists compose and
new songs are recorded.
The music these people brought with them would eventually evolve into
original American folk, classic, military and eventually ragtime &
jazz music.
To understand American music you have to understand American history. The key
points above only scratch the surface of important events, inventions and the
evolution of America.
One of the absolute major pivotal points in American music was the
introduction of the phonograph or talking machine.
The Italian opera singer/vocalist Enrico Caruso had been the greatest selling
"Recording Artist" and his fame was not outdone until the very first
recordings of jass/jazz were released to the public on a large scale in 1917 by
the Original Dixieland Jass Band on both Victor and Columbia Records.
These recordings set the standard for future "popular American
music" recordings and the musical groups to follow who would record new
material.
David Hansen, February, 2002
