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Eckstine, Strayhorn, and the Dorseys: Masters of Swing
Background Information for Teachers

At the onset of WWII, the people of the United States spent many hours with their ears tuned to the radio. The armed forces also listened intently for news from the homefront. This was swing music's big chance to make an impression on an unparalleled audience worldwide. Not only did swing prove to be some of the best entertainment for troops at home and abroad, but it also bound the U. S. with a common musical bond. Swing instantly became the rage, sweeping the U. S. and improving morale during a time of war.
Some consider swing music to be a form of jazz since the two music forms had much in common. Swing, however, usually employed the use of a larger band than did jazz. It also carried with it a distinct rhythm, which proved to be excellent for dancing. Nonetheless, swing proved to have such a large impact on the United States that some people refer to the 1940s as "the swing era."
For more background information on this subject, please see the story "Jazz in Pennsylvania" and the markerBilly Eckstine and markerDorsey Brothers' historical marker pages on the ExplorePAhistory.com Web site.

Video

Jazz, a film by Ken Burns. PBS DVD Gold. Burbank, CA: Distributed by Warner Home Video, c2000.

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