Chicago’s involvement in the American Music Industry
Volume Two in the Quest for World Class series
Music is the artform in which Chicago has achieved the greatest national, even international, recognition. Every genre of music deemed unique to America developed between the Rockies and the Appalachian Mountains and then through Chicago to the World.
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Chicago had become a musical production center with a national position before the Civil War.
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Chicago was the piano manufacturing capital of America
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Chicago was the player piano manufacturing capital of America
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Chicago is where the electrical recording industry started
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Chicago was the Jukebox manufacturing capital of America
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Chicago was where the Big Band era began
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Chicago was America’s first dominant country music capital
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Chicago was home to America’s most commercially successful female composer
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Chicago was the religious music capital of America.
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Chicago was home to a large community of national music recording businesses.