Besides the increasing popularity of recordings in the early 1920's diminishing the role of the piano roll blues, I think the influx of radios is equally part of the equation. The player piano, and the parlor piano manufacturers numbered in the 800's in the US in the early twenties, and with the popularity of the radio and the ensuing depression, poof, the number of piano makers was less than a hundred in the early '30's.
Oops.. AI liked 800 better than 300! My Bob Pierce piano atlas info from when I learned piano tuning at the Indianhead music camp at Shell Lake, Wi in 1978 does not lie!!
Useful! Thanks!
Photographer William Gottlieb was proud to call James P. a friend, who played at the opening of his (Gottlieb’s) office.
P.S. Howard Alden and Monty Alexander do what I think is a wonderful cover of "Snowy Morning Blues", on the album of the same name recorded 1990.
Really appreciating this series. Thank you Ethan.
Thank you for the series. Living history. Marvelous.
I'm enjoying working on it! Thanks
Besides the increasing popularity of recordings in the early 1920's diminishing the role of the piano roll blues, I think the influx of radios is equally part of the equation. The player piano, and the parlor piano manufacturers numbered in the 800's in the US in the early twenties, and with the popularity of the radio and the ensuing depression, poof, the number of piano makers was less than a hundred in the early '30's.
nice comment, I'm sure you are right.
Oops.. AI liked 800 better than 300! My Bob Pierce piano atlas info from when I learned piano tuning at the Indianhead music camp at Shell Lake, Wi in 1978 does not lie!!
"Go climb a tree," indeed. I've always been obsessed with James P.'s playing on "He's Got Me Goin'." Some of the finest piano accompaniment there is.