Throughout many years, music has changed and shaped society in many ways and it continues to evolve into something new and unique. With no doubt, music has influenced our emotions and our minds, even the songs that were once popular. Unlike today, music from the 1940s were used as a mean to motivate, lift up spirits and even to inspire, especially in times of war.
Jazz and Swing
In America of 1940s, music such as Jazz and Swing began to bloom. Swing music was developed in the 1930s but it was not until 1939 when it began to be popular. Jazz reached the height of its popularity with the American public during the Swing era, beginning in the dark days of the Depression and continuing through the end of World War II. Swing jazz was America’s most pervasive and popular musical genre.
Swing is distinguished mainly by a strong rhythm section, a medium to fast tempo and the unique “swing” style — a combination of long and short beats produced by the fixed attacks and accents of the musicians. The rhythm section included piano, bass, drums and guitar which maintained the swinging dance beat, while trumpets, trombones and woodwinds, and later, vocals, were often scored to play together and provide the emotional focus of the piece.
Some popular musicians that played swing were Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford and Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra.
Glen Miller entered the Army in fall 1942 and was placed in the Army Air Force. For a while he played trombone for a 15-piece dance band. Miller was then allowed to form a large military marching band, from which he drew musicians to form smaller service band orchestras — many of them were featured on CBS Radio’s weekly service band broadcast “I Sustain the Wings.”
In 1944, Miller got permission to form a 50-piece band, the Army Air Force Band, and go to England to perform for troops. He along with the rest of the members of the band gave at least 800 performances. However, it was on Dec. 15, 1944, when Miller's flight disappeared over the English Channel and he was declared Missing in Action.
Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood,” recorded in 1940, was a popular tune that stormed the air waves and filled many clubs and dance halls:
In America of 1940s, music such as Jazz and Swing began to bloom. Swing music was developed in the 1930s but it was not until 1939 when it began to be popular. Jazz reached the height of its popularity with the American public during the Swing era, beginning in the dark days of the Depression and continuing through the end of World War II. Swing jazz was America’s most pervasive and popular musical genre.
Swing is distinguished mainly by a strong rhythm section, a medium to fast tempo and the unique “swing” style — a combination of long and short beats produced by the fixed attacks and accents of the musicians. The rhythm section included piano, bass, drums and guitar which maintained the swinging dance beat, while trumpets, trombones and woodwinds, and later, vocals, were often scored to play together and provide the emotional focus of the piece.
Some popular musicians that played swing were Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford and Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra.
Glen Miller entered the Army in fall 1942 and was placed in the Army Air Force. For a while he played trombone for a 15-piece dance band. Miller was then allowed to form a large military marching band, from which he drew musicians to form smaller service band orchestras — many of them were featured on CBS Radio’s weekly service band broadcast “I Sustain the Wings.”
In 1944, Miller got permission to form a 50-piece band, the Army Air Force Band, and go to England to perform for troops. He along with the rest of the members of the band gave at least 800 performances. However, it was on Dec. 15, 1944, when Miller's flight disappeared over the English Channel and he was declared Missing in Action.
Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood,” recorded in 1940, was a popular tune that stormed the air waves and filled many clubs and dance halls:
Another popular song during war years was by Benny Goodman called, "Sing Sing Sing":