Sound of History

For the last Bonus Episode of the war era, Mika and Nick take a look at, perhaps, the best songwriter of the time period: Irving Berlin. Irving was a national institution during his time and his story is one you won't want to miss.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_

Mika and Nick continue their review of Broadway in the Great Depression era by looking at two brothers who defined this period of musical theater: George and Ira Gershwin.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_

For the first time, Mika and Nick have guests in the studio! Our friends Madison and Blake join us as we venture back into the weird, wonderful world of Broadway during the Jazz Age and Great Depression.    Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_

Nick and Mika continue their examination of early country music by looking at the Father of Country Music himself, Jimmie Rodgers. How did he start yodeling? What does he have to do with Jimmy Carter? We answer that and more in this episode. 

Country music is all around us! Mika and Nick take a look at the birth of commercial country music, including the Bristol sessions, Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers, and a little bit more Fiddlin' John Carson.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_

Mika and Nick take a look at the first family of country music: The Carter Family. They examine the early lives of the original members, how they completely changed folk and country music, and listen to plenty of songs.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_

We're finally done talking about jazz (at least for a little bit) and we're focusing in on folk, also known as American Roots Music.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_

Today, Mika and Nick take a look at America's first ever pop star: Rudy Vallee.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  Rudy Vallee's Radio Show Intro:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPyJGWWcN8Y&list=LLBr-TTrqolsqWXBOk3im0-g&t=25s "Deep Night" by Rudy Vallee:  https://www.youtube.com/w...

Mika loves crooners, but we're not talking about any that she knows in this episode. Instead, we cover the origin story of crooners: where did they come from and how did they create the archetype for the American Pop star?  Check out "My Daddy is a Hipster" the new children's book from Madison Farren:  https://www.madisonfarrenwrites.com/shop/hipsterdad Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https...

Al Jolson, The World's Greatest Entertainer, has a story that is full of ups and downs. Mika and Nick attempt to cover every aspect of his overly-dramatic life.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  "Ma Blushin Rosie" by Al Jolson:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=023QwhDNdIQ   "That H...

It is time for the first ever Sound of History Battle of the Bands! Mika hears the stories of Benny Goodman and Count Basie, two of the biggest bandleaders through the Swing Era, and then decides who should be the real King of Swing. Who do you think is the King of Swing?  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_...

Mika and Nick take a look at jazz's little brother: swing. What makes it different from jazz? Who were the big players? Who invented battle of the bands? We talk about all of this (sort of).  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  Benny Goodman on the Let's Dance radio show: https://www....

Continuing the survey of jazz, Mika and Nick look at the First Lady of Song and talk about Ella Fitzgerald. Her story is truly fascinating, inspiring, and enlightening and she had a voice to match.    Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  "Love and Kisses" by Ella Fitzgerald with Chick...

Louis Armstrong is one of the most powerful and important figures in the history of American music. Mika and Nick take a look at his incredible life story, from his humble beginnings in the battlefield of New Orleans to becoming the ambassador of jazz.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episo...

Jazz was the soundtrack for the Roaring 20s. Nick and Mika take a look at Jazz Age America and the different societal influences that caused jazz to flourish within the culture.    Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  "Mammy" by Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer:  https://www.youtube.com/wa...

We finally talk about the biggest musical genre in American history. Nick and Mika talk about New Orleans jazz, the early players, and what "Jelly Roll" actually means.    Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  "Jelly Roll Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4o...

We take a bit of a break from the standard format to talk about an important musical figure that we overlooked: The American March King, John Philip Sousa.  Leave us a rating and a review! Follow us on Social media: Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  The Gladiator March:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGsRw_E...

Robert Johnson is a legendary figure in blues and rock history. Was his life as crazy as the stories say? Mika learns all of the legends surrounding his talent and playing.    Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  "Death Letter Blues" by Son House:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdgrQ...

Mika and Nick tackle a musical genre close to the heart of every true American: the blues. What were they? How did they get started? And how exactly did Leadbelly get his name? Learn all of that and more in this episode.    Here is how to help middle Tennessee recover from the devastating tornados:  https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pith-in-the-wind/blog/21119626/nashville-tornado-how-to-help-wh...

Ragtime swept the nation, but three musicians stood above the rest. Here is the story of Ragtime's Big Three: Joseph Lamb, the Little Professor, and, of course, King Scott Joplin.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  "Contentment Rag" by Joseph Lamb:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q...

Mika and Nick take a look at a fun musical genre called Ragtime. Mika wants you to know that she was right and that Ragtime is, in fact, the music from Western silent movies.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos in This Episode:  "You've Been a Good Ole Wagon But You Done Broke Down" by Ben Harney:  ht...

We're FINALLY rounding out the 1800's by talking about a few things that aren't music genres, but still need to be talked about. Mika learns all about Tin Pan Alley and the birth of music recording.  Leave us a review and rating!  We sincerely apologize for the audio issues in this episode. We have no idea why Nick's microphone decided to sound so bad and our cat had a lot of stuff to add, apparen...

Mika and Nick take a look at the life of Laura Keene, a pretty awesome, powerful woman who became one of the first and best female theater managers in Broadway history. All of her accomplishments are typically overshadowed by one pretty momentous night, but she did a lot and deserves to be talked about.    Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  ht...

This week, Mika and Nick examine a topic close to Mika's heart: Broadway and musical theater. A horrendously complex topic, they do their best to tell it's history in 30 minutes. Mika really wants this topic to be it's own season and she urges you to ask for it.    Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/soundofhistory_ Videos i...

Martin Beck built the Orpheum Circuit into a vaudeville empire in the West. Through their love/hate relationship with the Kieth/Abee Circuit in the East, vaudeville took the nation by storm. This week, Mika and Nick look a the history of the Orpheum Circuit and how Martin Beck may have saved Harry Houdini's career.  Follow us on Social media!  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SoundofHistory/ Tw...