1912

In 1912 came the first publication of that phenomenal song form, the blues. It is an old form that may have preceded the Civil War. Harold Courlander, folklorist and author of the definitive Negro Folk Music U.S.A., says, “ There is no indication that something closely akin to blues wasContinue Reading

In 1909 Shelton Brooks wrote the words and music of a song which was truly a landmark in popular music, perhaps the landmark of the transition era. It was completely unlike most songs of its time. It derived from none of the popular song elements then current. It is aContinue Reading

In 1911 Ernest M. Burnett copyrighted a song called Melancholy. In 1912 the copyright was assigned to the Joe Morris Music Co. under the much better-known title My Melancholy Baby. We’ve all heard this song so many times I think we may have forgotten a few salient facts about it.Continue Reading

In 1912 came the first publication of that phenomenal song form, the blues. It is an old form that may have preceded the Civil War. Harold Courlander, folklorist and author of the definitive Negro Folk Music U.S.A., says, “ There is no indication that something closely akin to blues wasContinue Reading