Music

Lyrics were sad about the depressing times. "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," was one of the most famous songs that told of the hardships. Big Band music was the craze and good music to have a good time and dance. Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey were popular artists. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were popular in the musical "Top Hat." Musicians turned to religious gospel music to pray in hope of their happiness. Tommy Dorsey who was a blue singer was the first publisher of black music. Johnny Mercer impressed Americans with his singing and acting talents. Electric guitars were starting to become a hit with blues music. Broadway produced some of the most famous lasting musicals such as: Strike Up the Band, Girl Crazy, Anthing Goes and Jubilee. Irving Berlin and and Richard Rodgers composed pieces still being played today. Woody Guthrie traveled throughout the Northwest to perform his folk songs. He wrote twenty-six songs in twenty-six days.