Ragtime, Western Swing, and Chicago Blues

We will continue our discussion of American Music with a focus on two genres: Ragtime and Western Swing. These two genres led directly to the formation of jazz/


Ragtime was a blend of music from the European tradition (especially the marches of John Philip Sousa) and African rhythms. It could be viewed as a predecessor to jazz.

Ragtime:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragtime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc

Western Swing borrowed heavily from country music

Bob Wills
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Wills

What is Western Swing? (READ FOR HOMEWORK)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_swing