A   J a z z   T i m e l i n e   

1800 - 1850-

African forms of music influenced American folk music


1850s and Throughout the Civil War

Slaves as well as prisoners sang songs that affected some of the styles of jazz music today

Late 1800s-

Blues music starts to grow and is complete by 1910

Ragtime develops as well and becomes the most popular style of music from around 1900 to 1911


Early 1900s-

The Blues, marching band music, and Ragtime music start to be combined into early Jazz roots.


1910 - 1930s-

A mix of black and creole music created jazz in New Orleans. The Jazz Age begins when New Orleans jazz music is key in the 1920s. Jazz music is played in the speakeasies during the time of Prohibition.


1930s - 1980s-

Many styles of jazz music developed in this time period...

1930: Swing

1940: Bebop

1950: Hard bop/Funk, and Cool Jazz

1960: Modal and Free Jazz

1970: Jazz Fusion

1980: The age of Contemporary Jazz begins


1990s-

Hip-hop is based off of Jazz music, and Hard Bop is revived.