Golden Age music

I love music from the 1920s, '30s, and around there. Here are names of particular artists I enjoy.

Helen Kane (a favorite!), Deanna Durbin, Ruth Etting, Annette Hanshaw, Frances Langford, Al Bowlly, Lew Stone, Billy Merrin, Georgia Gibbs, Greta Keller, Phyllis Robins, Patsy Montana.

Then into WWII there's Flanagan & Allen (description & 20 tracks free for the QT listening).

As for the hillbilly and blues coming out of the Appalacian Mountains at the time, I especially run to black blues - Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins, Bessie Smith. Dear Johnny Cash was in his formulation stages.

I'm forever searching for a certain mystery voice that remains in my head, a female soprano along the lines of Gertrude Lawrence. I can imagine her on Lover Come Back to Me and Always. The voice is immediately striking in its surreal timbre of a child or fairy (and don't ask me how I know what a fairy sounds like. I just do.) The voice could well be that of Adriana Caselotti (Snow White). Altho Walt Disney effectively owned her, with her family's musical background, I can't believe there aren't any earlier recordings of her languishing in someone's cellar or attic. Anyway, her voice is phenomenal, and it's a damn shame Disney restricted the world from hearing more of her.

David Garrick's website is an amazing labor of love. An approachable fellow via email, he's put his knowledge to good organization here at the Jazz Age, a great resource.

Here's a series of radio shows by "Jimmy Jazz" Jim Baldwin He broadcasts out of Vermont. He has an Annette Hanshaw show. He's linked from David's site, above.

Here's an internet radio station with music from 1925 - 1935 A Live 365 show that's free but annoys you with commercials to join for commercialfree access.


Left Cindy Ball as Helen Kane from helenkane.com


Below Bee Palmer, from David Garrick's great Jazz Age website.