Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

For Students 9th - 10th
Listen to and learn about King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band here. Site includes a description and discography of the greatest early jazz band.
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Joe 'King' Oliver

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of one of the most prominent artists of early jazz.
Activity
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: Biographies: James Reese Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
Short but informative biography of jazz musician James Reese Europe (1881-1919) from Ken Burns' PBS documentary, Jazz.
Article
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Jazz and the African American Literary Tradition

For Students 9th - 10th
Article explores the influence of jazz on African American literature from the early history of jazz, noted jazz artists, the black-white tensions within jazz, to its literary influence after World War II.
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: The Origins of Jazz

For Students 9th - 10th
Red Hot Jazz outlines the origins of jazz, taking a look at the blend of cultures that existed in New Orleans at the turn of the century when jazz first emerged as a unique musical form. Includes links to additional information about...
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Techno Pop

For Students 9th - 10th
Feature series on "The Secret History of Technology and Pop Music," traced partly through the story of an Indiana company that stopped making pianos and started cutting 78 rpm records using the talents of famous jazz musicians and others.
Article
Scott Alexander

The Red Hot Jazz Archive; Thomas "Tommy" Dorsey

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Tommy Dorsey with links to his contemporaries, a discography, filmography, and suggested reading.
Graphic
Curated OER

Red Hot Jazz: Joe 'King' Oliver

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of one of the most prominent artists of early jazz.
Graphic
Curated OER

Red Hot Jazz: Joe 'King' Oliver

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of one of the most prominent artists of early jazz.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: New Orleans Jazz Nat'l Historical Park: Louis Armstrong

For Students 9th - 10th
A major figure in jazz, Louis Armstrong is considered the father of jazz. Learn about his early days in New Orleans and how he developed into one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time.
Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Dorsey Brothers

For Students 9th - 10th
A succinct biographical sketch that examines contributions to the jazz and swing eras by noted musicians, band leaders, and Pennsylvania natives, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.
Primary
Calisphere: University of California Libraries

University of California: Calisphere: 1900 1940s: Popular Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
Original photographs look at pop culture and entertainment in the early part of the 20th century.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Buddy Bolden: Calling His Children Home

For Students 9th - 10th
One of the early cornet players, Buddy Bolden was a key figure in the early development of jazz. Read about his life and career in this well written site.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Baby Dodds

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Baby Dodds, an African-American musican, a leading early jazz percussionist and one of the first major jazz drummers on record.
Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey

For Students 9th - 10th
Often called the "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey was known for her deep-throated voice and mesmerizing stage presence that drew packed audiences and sold hit records in the early twentieth century.
Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 6: Becoming a Modern Nation

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines the role of large-scale industrialization, urbanization, and mass migrations in creating new demands on government and social organizations to design reforms, and looks at the global and domestic...
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Ragtime

For Students 9th - 10th
An early form of jazz, Ragtime music is discussed in this web site. Touching on its origins to its lasting influence, you will be sure to learn more about it here.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Billie Holiday Was Born

For Students 9th - 10th
Billie Holiday is one of the most well-known blues singers of all time. Visit this Library of Congress site for more about her early years and some great photographs.
Graphic
Curated OER

Red Hot Jazz: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

For Students 9th - 10th
Listen to and learn about King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band here. Site includes a description and discography of the greatest early jazz band.
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot jazz.com: Tom Brown's "Jass" Band

For Students 9th - 10th
Stop here at RedHotJazz.com for some early history of Dixieland jazz, dating to the early 1900's and one of the first known jazz bands.
Graphic
Curated OER

Red Hot jazz.com: Tom Brown's "Jass" Band

For Students 9th - 10th
Stop here at RedHotJazz.com for some early history of Dixieland jazz, dating to the early 1900's and one of the first known jazz bands.
Handout
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.

New Georgia Encyclopedia: Fletcher Henderson 1897 1952

For Students 9th - 10th
Uncover biographical facts about African American jazz musician, Fletcher Henderson, who formed the first big band orchestra in the early 1920s.
Website
Oswego City School District

Regents Prep: Entertainment

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the impact of various forms of entertainment on the popular culture of the Jazz Age. The content is brief but informative.
Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Listening to Ragtime

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent resource explaining the details that characterize ragtime music. From the rhythms to the typical form, this site gives a great overview of this early style of jazz.