Volume 8–4 (Low Res).pdf - U&lc

U
F
Even when radios became a
staple item in every home, the
jukebox provided what radio
couldn't. Radio had to satisfy a
broad common denominator of
listeners. It could not cater to idiomatic
musical tastes — rhythm
and blues for the black population
...hillbilly country music for
the South ...cowboy songs for
the West... sophisticated show
tunes for the Eastern establishment.
But jukeboxes could! The
proprietor of a gathering spot
could select records for his
machine that reflected the
tastes of his clientele.
If jukeboxes satisfied the special-interest
listeners, it had an
even more salubrious effect on
performers—especially blacks.
The best of them appeared only
in places like New York's Cotton
Club in Harlem, and then they
were seen and heard mostly by
affluent whites. Generally, there
was no opportunity for black
performers to get broad public
exposure. But with the jukebox,
ethnic and regional music
gained an audience. Big record
sales followed, and scores of
composers,vocalists, instrumentalists
and band leaders
were catapulted into the limelight.
Without doubt, the jukebox
enriched our musical tastes
and heritage forever.