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Herb Ellis was born in Texas and grew up in the Dallas area. He dropped out of college to pursue his musical aspirations. He really did not get a professional nod until he was 33 years old. That break came when Ellis was playing jazz guitar with the Jimmy Dorsey Band in 1943. It was with Jimmy Dorsey’s band that Ellis first recorded music as a guitar solo performer. Ellis caught another huge break when musician John Frigo, dropped out of a band, that Ellis would soon join in 1947, the band Read the rest of this entry »

Jazz is defined as “a genre of American music that originated in New Orleans circa characterized by strong, prominent meter, improvisation, distinctive tone colors & performance techniques, and dotted or syncopated rhythmic patterns. But Jazz is so much more than that.’

Jazz dates back to the early 1700s, when slavery was still established. Slaves would sing in the fields from sun up to sun down. A caller would sing out a line and all others working in that field would repeat the line that was sung.I was looking for more information and found it here.

In the 1800s, an African American composer named Scott Joplin invented ragtime. This type Read the rest of this entry »

Melbourne “Mel” Bay was born in 1913 in the rural Missouri town of Bunker. He learned to play guitar on an old Sear’s and Roebuck guitar by watching other guitar players as there were no guitar teachers in the small town in which he grew up. Mel wanted to make a living playing guitar so he moved to St. Louis where there were greater opportunities for musicians. While in St. Louis, Mel worked for several radio stations as their “house” guitar player. He also fronted a jazz trio with a bass Read the rest of this entry »

Jazz is an American art form that is considered one of America-s greatest cultural achievements. Jazz originated in Southern United States in the early twentieth century. African American-s brought with them tribal musical traditions that evolved, after slavery ended, into what we call Jazz today. Some argue that Jazz began in New Orleans, but it seems to have popped up throughout the South and traveled around the United States without one single origin. The word Jazz-s origins are arguable as well.You can find a quick rundown here No one Read the rest of this entry »