Thursday, 5 September 2019

Billboard magazine, Oct. 1942

   billboard.com

   Oct. 24, 1942, Billboard magazine debuts the Harlem Hit Parade to chart the top singles in the "race" field, a precursor to rhythm & blues.




    In the issue dated Oct. 24, 1942, Billboard premiered its first R&B chart. Its name? The "Harlem Hit Parade," which was defined as a ranking of the "most popular records in Harlem, based on sales reports from Rainbow Music Shop, Harvard Radio Shop, Lehman Music Company, Harlem De Luxe Music Store, Ray's Music Shop and Frank's Melody Music Shop, New York." Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy topped the inaugural tally with "Take It and Git."



Harlem Hit Parade Top 10 in USA
 - October 24, 1942
1 Take It And Git-Andy Kirk
2 Trav'lin Light-Paul Whiteman & Billie Holiday
3 Mr. Five By Five-Freddie Slack
4 Stormy Monday Blues-Earl Hines
5 I'm Gonna Leave You At The Outskirts Of Town-Louis Jordan
6 When The Lights Go On Again-Lucky Millinder
7 Don't Get Around Much Anymore-Four Ink Spots
8 Let's Be Friends-Lil Green
9 Every Night About This Time-Four Ink Spots
10 Just As Though You Were Here-Four Ink Spots


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1937  

  'Count Basie' releases "One O'Clock Jump", a cross of swing and R&B. Recorded 7 July 1937, New York. Released as Decca 1363 in August 1937.

  One O'Clock Jump - Count Basie   en.wikipedia Count Basie

Publicity portrait of legendary jazz musician Count Basie. The Count is shown here seated, 
with his arms crossed, holding a cigarette. 1930s

African-American jazz musician Count Basie playing the piano during 
the Great Carnival of Swing, Randalls Island, New York, 1938.


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1938  

   John Hammond stages the "Spirituals To Swing" concert in New York City to highlight black musical styles. The stars of the show are the duo of singer Big Joe Turner and pianist Pete Johnson who kick off a national "boogie woogie" craze.

   Duke Ellington. To Swing Out Good Cheer at Carnegie Hall, December 22, 1938. New York
American Jazz Notables: To Swing Out Good Cheer at Carnegie Hall, December 22, 1938. New York, New York: Staid Carnegie Hall will resound to hot licks when these stars of swing hold forth at the Christmas night concert to be conducted by Paul Whitman. They are here during today's (December 22) dress rehearsal. Left to right, Duke Ellington, Walter Gross, Ferde Grofe, Walter Van Cleave, Morris Rosenthal, Paul Whitman, Mrs. Rosenthal, Rosa Linda, and Ray Bargy.

   John Hammond a concert "Spirituals To Swing" concert in Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York, December 23, 1938.

   John Hammond a "Spirituals To Swing" concert on Christmas Eve in Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York, December 24, 1939.

At Columbia Records in 1940, from left, John Hammond, Benny Goodman, 
the guitarist Charlie Christian and a Columbia A&R man.
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   Saxophonist Louis Jordan leaves Chick Webb's band to form the Tympany Five, a slimmed down group that begins the rhythm & blues revolution.

American musician Louis Jordan with his Tympany Five in the film 'Caledonia' 1942. 

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1939  

   Leo Mintz opens The Record Rendezvous in Cleveland, Ohio, a store specializing in race music. 12 years later he will convince DJ Alan Freed to start playing those records on the air which launches the rock 'n' roll era.

Leo Mintz (pictured, at right), owner of Record Rendezvous on Prospect Avenue, Cleveland. 1940s



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