This title presents a landmark exploration of one of the defining periods in American culture and African American popular music. The late 19th century was a time of extreme racial tension in the United States, yet it witnessed the emergence of ragtime and birth of an African American popular entert[...]
This is a groundbreaking study of how ragtime comedies, bands, and minstrel shows brought blues to the masses. The explosion in popularity of ragtime music in the early part of the twentieth century opened up previously unthought - of opportunities for black performers. However, these opportunities [...]