Musical Oddities 
The Dr. K Jazz Trio

Songs

While early American music was European imported, there soon developed a national style popular music, and although still influenced by its European origins, American popular music composers soon began using music that was indigenous to its native land, and the composers developed their own style, many times using their rural experiences and influenced by Negro slave music. Composers such as Stephen Foster based their compositions on the music that was heard in the cotton fields, on the water fronts and in the dance halls. The institution of Tin Pan alley was established around 1924 to further progress American popular music. Sheet music reached an all time high in sales and has never looked back. First in minstrel shows, then in vaudeville, the Broadway stage and motion pictures a full fledged industry grew up.

The names of these composers have become household names in every hamlet of America, and, yes, the world. Who has not heard of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers and so many others. Each song has a story connected to it: how it was written or why it was written, and what the song was about.