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Memphis Music: Before the Blues
Memphis means music. That relationship was solidified in 1909 when W. C. Handy wrote the song “Mr. Crump” and later published it as the “Memphis Blues.” As Handy’s songs were sung and played in streets and music halls, a spotlight began to shine on a new mecca for innovation in music—Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis Music: Before the Blues surveys the people, music, and events that contributed to the rich musical life that emerged against the backdrop of the Civil War and yellow fever in the 19th century. The story is not just one of the building blocks to what has been called America’s greatest export—popular music—but rather it is a story of ongoing innovation and creativity that came from a convergence of people of different cultures.
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Memphis Music: Before the Blues
Memphis means music. That relationship was solidified in 1909 when W. C. Handy wrote the song “Mr. Crump” and later published it as the “Memphis Blues.” As Handy’s songs were sung and played in streets and music halls, a spotlight began to shine on a new mecca for innovation in music—Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis Music: Before the Blues surveys the people, music, and events that contributed to the rich musical life that emerged against the backdrop of the Civil War and yellow fever in the 19th century. The story is not just one of the building blocks to what has been called America’s greatest export—popular music—but rather it is a story of ongoing innovation and creativity that came from a convergence of people of different cultures.
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Memphis Music: Before the Blues

Memphis Music: Before the Blues

by Tim Sharp
Memphis Music: Before the Blues
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Memphis Music: Before the Blues

Memphis Music: Before the Blues

by Tim Sharp

Overview

Memphis means music. That relationship was solidified in 1909 when W. C. Handy wrote the song “Mr. Crump” and later published it as the “Memphis Blues.” As Handy’s songs were sung and played in streets and music halls, a spotlight began to shine on a new mecca for innovation in music—Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis Music: Before the Blues surveys the people, music, and events that contributed to the rich musical life that emerged against the backdrop of the Civil War and yellow fever in the 19th century. The story is not just one of the building blocks to what has been called America’s greatest export—popular music—but rather it is a story of ongoing innovation and creativity that came from a convergence of people of different cultures.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781439633663
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date: 04/11/2007
Series: Images of America Series
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 128
File size: 50 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Tim Sharp holds the Elizabeth G. Daughdrill Chair in the Fine Arts at Rhodes College in Memphis, where he administrates the Center for Outreach in the Development of the Arts and is associate dean for fine arts. Dr. Sharp conducts the Rhodes Singers and MasterSingers Chorale and teaches conducting and African American music. He is a life fellow at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, where he continues his ongoing research on the life and music of German Moravians. The images for Memphis Music: Before the Blues come from private family collections as well as private and public libraries and archives.

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments     6
Introduction     7
Memphis: A Musical Province of Germany     15
Population, Affluence, and Leisure Time: A Formula for the Arts     19
Civil War Changes the Tune     35
Affluence Brings Musical Organizations, Itinerant Artists, and Educational Institutions     49
The Years the Music Died     63
Piano Dealerships Multiply in Memphis as Amateur Music Making Increases     75
Music Making in Memphis Comes of Age     85
No Turning Back     91
The Blues Comes to Town     105
Reflections on Memphis Music Before the Blues     115
Bibliography     124
Index     126
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