Musicians of the Renaissance

By : Maria McKinney Harlem Renaissance

★ Occurred between the 1920s to the 1930s ★ Signified the cultural, social and artistic explosion that took place in Harlem during that time period ★ Incorporated and the , attracting whites to Harlem speakeasies, where interracial couples danced ★ Originally called the “New Negro Movement” ★ Impact was to reinforce race pride among blacks ★ Basically focused on the literary and artistic vision of the blacks Jazz

★ Jazz began to emerge as part of a broad musical revolution encompassing , blues, spirituals, and marches. ★ associated with the popular bandleader Charles “Buddy” Bolden ★ originated in in the late 19th century, early 20th century ★ interpretation of American and European classical music intertwined with African and slave folk songs and the influences of West African culture ★ Although New Orleans was the birthplace of jazz, Kansas city was considered the “cradle of jazz” ★ An aspiring factor of the Harlem Renaissance The

★ Opened in 1920 as Club Deluxe by heavyweight champion Jack Johnson ★ 2 year later, after being taken under the ownership of Owney Madden, the name was changed to the Cotton Club ★ When it was first opened it was located at 644 Lenox Avenue, but it closed down for a short period of time at was rebuilt at 200 West 48th St until June of 1940. ★ Was the most famous of the city nightclubs, many prominent musicians performed there ★ It was decorated as a “stylish plantation environment” to suit their most important clientele which were the whites.

★ One of the most influential artist in jazz history ★ born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, ★ known for his unique vocals and trumpet styles, but it was his charismatic stage presence that impressed the jazz world ★ At the age of 11, he received his musical instruction on the cornet at Colored Waif's Home for Boys ★ He started off as being a blues player, but later became a jazz musician after to being called to play with a band in Chicago ★ introduced the concept of swing dancing

★ Born as Ferdinand Joseph Lamothe on October 20, 1890 in New Orleans, Louisiana ★ learned to play the piano at age 10, and within a few years he was playing in the red-light district bordellos which is where he got the nickname “Jelly Roll” ★ he enjoyed telling people that he had invented jazz and he was believed to be the first jazz musician to put his arrangements on paper with "Original Jelly Roll Blues", the genre's first published work ★ He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 ★ Died on July 10, 1941 due to poor health

★ Born as Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. ★ Famous pianist, conductor and songwriter ★ Both his mother and father talented and considered musical ★ He earned the nickname “Duke” for being known for is gentlemanly ways. ★ He wrote his first composition at the age of 15 called “Soda Fountain Rag” ★ Performed at many Broadway nightclubs as the bandleader of a sextet, which over time grew as a 10-piece ensemble ★ He married his high school sweetheart, Edna Thompson, at the age of 19 ★ He died on May 24, 1974 at the age of 75 from lung cancer and pneumonia

★ Born as Elinore Harris on April 17, 1915 in , Pennsylvania ★ Considered one of the best jazz vocalists of all time ★ Holiday began singing in local clubs and renamed herself "Billie" after the film star Billie Dove ★ She was discovered by a producer named John Hammond ★ She was known for her distinctive phrasing and expressive, melancholy voice ★ In 2000, Billie Holiday was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ★ She died on July 17, 1959 due to drug abuse Bibliography

★ http://www.pbs.org/jazz/places/spaces_cotton_club.htm ★ http://www.ushistory.org/us/46e.asp ★ http://www.blackpast.org/aah/cotton-club-harlem-1923 ★ http://www.biography.com/people/duke-ellington-9286338 ★ http://www.nps.gov/jazz/learn/historyculture/jazz_history.htm ★ http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.html ★ http://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912#synopsis ★ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_harlem.html ★ http://www.biography.com/people/jelly-roll-morton-9415945#synopsis ★ http://www.biography.com/people/billie-holiday-9341902