Nathan Dodge
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,051
- Location
- Near Miami
Were records by black artists readily available in "white" stores during this time? If one wanted, say, a Duke Ellington record, did that person have to travel to a black neighborhood in order to purchase it? I understand the term "Race Records" is bandied about during this time, but I thought that referred to what was the precursor to R&B. The reason I ask this is because my wife's grandfather died last year and in his collection of 78s were the typical bands of the era, Harry James and the like, but there was a noticeable absence of Jazz stalwarts like Duke, Count, and Satch. I also suspect that the numerous covers of Ellington compositions made those songs accessible to mainstream record buyers, but since Duke did have a radio show, wouldn't many white record buyers want those particular versions?
I'm really trying to get a sense of what music-buying habits were like and how difficult/easy it was to obtain all of those great sides that the likes of Duke and the rest were doing then.
I'm really trying to get a sense of what music-buying habits were like and how difficult/easy it was to obtain all of those great sides that the likes of Duke and the rest were doing then.