Throughline

Pop Music's First Black Stars

Jun 27, 2024

Exploring the roots of Black musicians in American music, George Johnson, Ernest Hogan, and Mamie Smith made a lasting impact by pushing back against racist systems. From Blackface Minstrelsy to viral sensations, their work reshaped the music industry and laid the foundation for future musicians.

49:29

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Episode guests

George Johnson

Ernest Hogan

Mamie Smith

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Black musicians like George Johnson and Ernest Hogan were among the first viral sensations in America, paving the way for future Black recording artists.

Black performers in the minstrel troupes subverted racist stereotypes, showcasing unique identities and challenging white dominant shows.

Deep dives

The Origin of Blackface Minstrelsy

Blackface Minstrelsy emerged in the early 1800s, igniting a wave of popular entertainment. Thomas Dartmouth Rice's 'Jump Jim Crow' performance in the 1820s marked its explosive growth. The racially derogatory act featured white performers in blackface imitating Black enslaved individuals. Despite the art form's success, Black Americans were barred from portraying their own culture on stage, highlighting a deep systemic inequality in the industry.

Intro

2min

The Origins of Black Stars in Pop Music

5min

Exploring the Roots of Blackface in the 1830s and 1840s

2min

Evolution of Blackface Entertainment and Emergence of Black Performers

13min

Exploring Tin Pan Alley in the 1890s

4min

Exploring Early 20th Century Music Industry and Rise of Black Recording Artists

10min

Impact of 'Some of these days' on Sophie Tucker's Career

2min

The Rise of Mamie Smith and the Impact on Race Records

15min

Engage with the Show and Outdoor Activity Sponsorships

2min

Today, the U.S. popular music industry is worth billions of dollars. And some of its deepest roots are in blackface minstrelsy and other racist genres. You may not have heard their names, but Black musicians like George Johnson, Ernest Hogan, and Mamie Smith were some of the country's first viral sensations, working within and pushing back against racist systems and tropes. Their work made a lasting imprint on American music — including some of the songs you might have on repeat right now.

Corrections: A previous version of this episode incorrectly stated that Jim Crow was a real-life enslaved person. In fact, Jim Crow was a racist caricature of African Americans. A previous version of this episode incorrectly stated that Thomas Rice, also known as T.D. Rice or Daddy Rice, was the first person to bring blackface characterization to the American stage. In fact, he was one of several performers of this era who popularized and spread the use of blackface. A previous version of this episode incorrectly stated that African American minstrel troupes didn't start to perform until after the U.S. Civil War. In fact, an African American artist named William Henry Lane was performing in the 1840s.

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Throughline

Pop Music's First Black Stars

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Origin of Blackface Minstrelsy

African American Minstrel Troupes

Pioneering Black Recording Artists

Impact and Evolution of Black Music

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts