American Songbook UWM

Louis Armstrong is born to a poor New Orleans family.

George M Cohan released his production 'Little Johnny Jones,' which brought hits such as Yankee Doodle and Give My Regards to Broadway into the mainstream of American music.

John Keith "Johnny" Hodges is born on July 25, 1906 in Cambridge, MA. He was a famous alto saxophonist.

12/25/1907 - Cabell "Cab" Calloway III is born in Rochester, New York.

One night while performing at the American Music Hall, her makeup kit was stolen, and she insisted on performing her original material. This ragtime and blues-influenced style proved to be a big hit amongst the audience.

Irving Berlin publishes first big hit

American Society of Composers and Publishers enforces copyright and collects and distributes royalties

ASCAP was created to oversee and protect music composers and song writer's rights. ASCAP fought a long battle over "freedom of the air" and eventually won, making radio stations responsible for giving royalties to music writers.

The Balboa style of swing dances originates in Southern California, and rides a wave of popularity with the Big Band era until the mid 1940's.

"Ole Blue Eyes" is born in New Jersey

Henry Haag "Harry" James is born on March 15, 1916 in Albany, GA. He was a famous jazz trumpeter and band leader.

Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald is born on April 25, 1917 in Newport News, VA.

George M Cohan wrote the iconic patriotic anthem 'Over There' for those fighting in WWI, which not only became his biggest hit, but earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1936.

The band was formed in 1918 at Pennsylvania State University by the brothers Fred and Tom Waring, and their friends Freddy Buck and Poley McClintock.

The independent record company Okeh records is created. They emphasized on musicians that had been overlooked by the more popular record labels at the time. In their particular case, it was African American musicians that made them famous with race records.

The Lindy Hop is born in Harlem in the 1920's and it's prominence lasts until the 1930's.

A big moment in Armstrong's career where he leaves Chicago, and reaches new audiences.

Ma Rainey signs with Paramount, who marketed her extensively as the "mother of the blues" and released over 100 songs over the course of five years.

Harold Arlen plies his trade in the rising New York City music scene.

Duke Ellington signs with Irving Mills, the largest independent music publisher of the time, after a performance at the Kentucky Club.

Al Jolson stars in the first feature-length film with synchronized dialogue.

Re-opened by well-known gangster Owney Madden.

"Honeysuckle Rose" is a 1929 song composed by Fats Waller and written by Andy Razaf. This was his second, most popular song after Ain't Misbehaving.

Cab Calloway takes over "The Missourians" and renames the group "Cab Calloway and his Orchestra" taking over at the Cotton Club for Duke Ellington's Orchestra.

Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians recorded this song written by Walter Donaldson. A quintessential song of the flapper era as well as university parties.

On the Sunny Side of the Street is written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields as part of the International Revue.

Written by Harry Barris with lyrics by Ted Koehler and Billy Moll. Also recorded by Bing Crosby that same year. Bing performs the song in his film debut in One More Chance, a short film by Mack Sennett.

Composition by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Ted Koehler. Composed for Cab Calloway orchestra at the 1932 Cotton Club Parade

Published for Broadway show entitled Earl Carroll's Vanities

Due to poor rates and gaining Latin influences, the Cotton Club shuts down.

Written by Cole Porter, this song was in the Broadway show Red, Hot, and Blue!, sung by Bob Hope and Ethel Merman. Eddy Duchin and his Orchestra also did a recording of this song that year.

Arthur Johnston (music) and Johnny Bruke (lyrics) write the song "Pennies From Heaven" for the upcoming film.

ASCAP recognizes Mann Holiner, Alberta Nichols and L.E Freeman, Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin as creators of "Until the Real Thing Comes Along".
First Recorded by Fats Waller in August.

The film "Pennies From Heaven" is released. Bing Crosby's version of the title song is #1 for 15 weeks.

George and Ira Gershwin wrote this song in 1937 for the film "Shall We Dance" starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Written for the Armistice Day Celebration in 1938. The melody was pulled from Berlin's earlier musical "Yip, Yip, Yaphank" and written with new lyrics. He donated the entire royalties to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts

"Prelude to a Kiss" by Duke Ellington is released as an instrumental, and a second version is released soon after with lyrics added.

Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker play together in the Earl Hines band. A historic moment, but with no documentation because of the strike of the American Federation of Musicians.

"White Christmas" first appeared in Holiday Inn starring Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby in 1942. That same year Berlin won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is one of the best selling singles of all time across any genre. In 1954 the movie White Christmas was made due to the songs popularity.

Fats Waller - Ain't Misbehavin' - Stormy Weather (1943)

"I'm Beginning to See the Light" was published in 1944, with music by Harry James, Duke Ellington, and Johnny Hodges, and lyrics by Don George. It was first recorded in 1945.

Lionel Hampton and Sonny Burke compose "Midnight Sun" as an instrumental.

Song is released in the movie "It All Happened In Brooklyn"

Recording done by Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle's Orchestra hit's #14 on the Billboard charts. The highest this song would ever reach.

Johnny Mercer hears "Midnight Sun" on his car radio, pens lyrics and gives the song a whole new life.

Charlie Parker dies from an ulcer at the age of 34. Coroner that examined his body estimated that he was 50-60.

Johnny Hodges dies on May 11, 1970 at age 63.

Harry James dies on July 5, 1983 in Las Vegas, NV at the age of 67.

Berlin lives to be 101

11/18/1994 - Cab Calloway dies in Hockessin, Delaware at the age of 86.

Ella Fitzgerald dies on June 15, 1996 in Beverly Hills, CA. She lives to be 79 years old.

The movie De-Lovely illustrates the life of Cole Porter and his relationship with his wife. Robbie Williams is featured singing the song "It's De-Lovely" at their wedding in the movie.