Other
Bo Diddley: The Originator
Biographical information on Bo Diddley, popular musician of rhythm 'n' blues and rock 'n' roll. Provides highlights of his 50 years in the music industry.
Other
Oculus Magazine: Early Jazz
Written for an audience accustomed to rock, this is a good history of Jazz, from the late 1800's, when the form supposedly took shape, to recommended recordings and books.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Learning Through the Duke
Describe the life of Duke Ellington and his contributions to the field of jazz, write an original poem using a variety of popular vocabulary from the 1920's and respond to Ellington's composition "Mood Indigo" by creating a painting.
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: George Balanchine
From the PBS series, American Masters, this is the biography for the American jazz dancer and choreographer, George Balanchine.
Library of Congress
Loc: America Singing: Nineteenth Century Song Sheets
Song sheets, which containedonly lyrics, were a popular form of printed music. The Library of Congress holds over 4,000 of these from the 1800s that can be viewed online.
PBS
Classics for Kids: John Phillip Sousa
A short biography of John Phillip Sousa (1854-1932 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
PBS
Classics for Kids: William Grant Still
A short biography of William Grant Still (1895-1978 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
PBS
Classics for Kids: Aaron Copland "Hoe Down"
Several radio shows with music clips regarding "Rodeo" and other works by Copland. Click to a short biography.
Library of Congress
Loc: Volcano of Delight Historic Sheet Music 1800 1922
This sheet music collection consists of about 9,000 items published from 1800 to 1922.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Bob Seger
Explore interesting biographical details on Midwest rock and roll musician, Bob Seger, a 2004 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading list, and essential songs.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: John Mellencamp
Biographical information on American rocker, John Mellencamp, a 2008 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline and list of most popular songs.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Robert Johnson
A brief biography and photograph of legendary blues guitarist, Robert Johnson.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Ventures
Known for their instrumentals, the Ventures were a successful 1960s rock group. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, this article includes biographical details, a timeline, and list of popular songs.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: A Guide Through the Culture of the Blues
An extraordinary curriculum unit to teach blues and all its cultural implications.
Other
Classical Music Navigator: Forms and Styles
This alphabetized list of musical forms and styles briefly defines and describes the types of musical sounds and genres created throughout history.
Library of Congress
Loc: Southern Mosaic
This site, from the Library of Congress, provides a recording project by the WPA during the Depression Era of folk music collected throughout the southern states of the U.S. Supplemented by photos and other material to document life...
Library of Congress
Loc: Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier
At this site from the Library of Congress, you can listen to an 82-year-old Virginia fiddler, Henry Reed, playing tunes recorded in the 1960's. Many of the tunes have been transcribed and the notation can be viewed on line as well. The...
Library of Congress
Loc: Sheet Music About Civil War
This resource provides more than 200 sheet music compositions that represent Lincoln, the Civil War and the times. Compiled by the greatest private collector of Lincoln material, Alfred Whital Stern.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Ma Rainey
Offers interesting biographical details on "Mother of the Blues", Ma Rainey, a 1990 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events and essential songs list.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Famous Americans: Stephen Foster
Learn brief information from the National Postal Museum on Stephen Foster, American music composer, who was featured on the one cent postage stamp.
Curated OER
American Musician and Poet Stephen Collins Foster
Although Foster is known as one of America's most famous folksong composers, his lyrics were very racist by today's standards. This article discusses the new lyrics given to his songs.