By the 1930s, rules of segregation began to relax and the mixing of races in big bands became more commonplace.
By the 1930s, rules of segregation began to relax and the mixing of races in big bands became more commonplace. Along with the end of prohibition, this caused jazz to come out of the dark and onto the big stage and mainstream. Big band composers paved the way for a new era of music with repertoire ranging from what would become known as jazz standards as well as American songbook and other original compositions. Some notable composers of this era are Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. It was also during this time that virtuosic style musicians/soloists began to emerge in various bands as feature soloists as well as vocalists both singing melody and improvising using scat singing (previously used by Louis Armstrong). It was this evolution that began to lead us into the next era known as Bebop. Some classic swing and big band music from the 1930s: