Popular Music: Introduction
Benny Goodman and his band
As the classical world of music was developing, a second realm of music took hold in America: Popular music. “Popular music” is not one style of music, but many styles: it is music that appeals to popular tastes. Genres of popular music that have evolved over the years in America include songs from Vaudeville and Broadway (show tunes), rock, pop, country, jazz, reggae, hip-hop, R & B, rap, and soul, among others.
In this section, we will learn more about the styles of popular music that emerged in America during the early part of the 20th Century. While not every genre will be covered in depth, you will gain a better understanding of how music developed during this time period.