Swing Music

jazz · dance · big bands · American history

Born from jazz. Swing music grew out of jazz in the late 1920s and became the most popular music in America by the mid-1930s. It ruled the dance floors until around 1946.

Made for dancing. Swing had a danceable groove that made people want to move, especially doing the Lindy Hop, a wild swing dance where partners jumped and spun around.

Soloists showed off. Swing bands featured musicians who would improvise, meaning they made up their own versions of the melody on the spot while the rest of the band played behind them.

Led by legends. Famous bandleaders like Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller became huge stars by leading orchestras that played swing music to packed dance halls.

'To swing' means groove. Musicians still use the word 'swing' today as praise for playing that has great rhythm and drive, even in music beyond jazz.