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The Boogie History
by Webmaster

A long time ago, black hands thundering on pianos gave birth to it.... Clarence "Pinetop" Smith was the one who generated the word "Boogie Woogie" by recording his famous "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" in 1928. Following this recording, the words were associated with this very peculiar kind of music. It seems that the Boogie Woogie was born at the beginning of the 20th century in the south of the USA. In the rising 20th century, many black workers were living in the southern States of the USA, building railways or working as woodcutters. Often, because of their activities, itinerant camps were their only houses and they found entertainment by going in barrelhouses or honky tonks. In these places, they could drink, gamble, meet girls and dance. In order to create that atmosphere, musicians, mainly pianists, made the turn of the barrelhouses and the honky tonks where they were invited to play all night long for food and bed (but they also accepted some alcohol!). Because of the crisis in the 20s, these black workers move to the big industrial cities of the north (e.g. Chicago). But as industry could not assure everybody's wealth, many families set up "House Rent Parties", where one could find food, alcohol and music. These dancing parties were the logical following for the pianists of the barrelhouses. The Boogie Woogie had left the country world of the South for the industrial North. During these few years, the boogie-woogie style developed and many pianists, as Pinetop Smith or Jimmy Hancey, made this music more famous. But it is only in 1938 that Boogie Woogie was acknowledged and recognised as a full style by a large audience. The first show "From Spirituals to Swing" was set up in the Carnegie Hall, New York. Everybody danced and listened to Boogie Woogie, and is told about in the media. It was diffused by radios, recorded on vinyl support, and the white audience discovered it. Great pianists like Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson & Meade Lux Lewis shone in the series of concerts organised by John Hammond. At this time, Boogie Woogie also became a commercial product. Many jazz bands inserted Boogie Woogie in their repertories. The American government also supported boogie Woogie during World War II in order to keep the moral of the American troops high. This helped the Andrew Sisters having a successful career. Concerning the style, the pianists in the barrelhouses had to have people dancing without any support music, without rhythmic, so that it was cheaper. Thus they developed a music style including rhythmic (left hand) and melody (right hand).. At the beginning, the melodies were made of Riff (short phrases sometimes imitating guitar or saxophone). Famous themes like "Swanee River", "You Are My Sunshine" or "The Sheik of Araby" were adapted in Boogie Woogie only in the forties. The rhythmic is made of a repetition of bass with the left hand. The musical structure is usually of 12 measures. The quick movements of the left hand that have a hypnotic effect are often opposed to the ever-changing movements of the right hand. The result is a dynamic movement of crossed rhythms. With the rising of Rock'n'Roll, Blues and Boogie Woogie become less popular at the end of the fifties. New musical tendencies appear and captivate the young people. The pioneers disappear (Ammons, Johnson, Lewis…). World War II helped European people to know the American culture and young Europeans discover this music and like it. Thus, many American musicians came in Europe to end their careers (e.g. Memphis Slim, Sammy Price). Many white European musicians could develop their passion for Boogie Woogie with the arrival of these talented and famous musicians. Today, most of the musicians of the golden era of Boogie Woogie have died. But Boogie Woogie is still alive and has been developed in Europe by young white pianists such as Frenchmen Jean-Paul Amouroux, Jean-Pierre Bertrand, Philippe Lejeune, Germans Axel Zwingenberger, Vince Weber, Frank Mushalle, Swiss Silvan ZINGG, Austrians Michael Pewny, Günther Straub, Martin Pyker… Many artists produce records, many shows and festivals are set up in Europe. The USA have recently known a swing music revival with bands like Big bad Voodoo Daddy or the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Dancers are also a good means to develop this music with Lindy Hop, Jitterburg or Boogie. Many dance schools now teach these dances and many parties include this music. To deepen your Boogie Woogie culture, you may read the book "A Left Hand Like God – The story of Boogie Woogie", by Peter J. SILVESTER.

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