Gennett Records: America's Home of Blues and Jazz...in Indiana

Richmond, Indiana’s Gennett Records is one of America’s best-kept secrets in the world of blues and jazz…and today we’re telling their story.

✅ Listen to Gennett Records: America’s Home of Blues and Jazz…in Indiana on our podcast. We release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️

Discovering Gennett: A Hidden Musical Treasure in Indiana

Gennett Records is one of America’s best-kept secrets in the world of blues and jazz…and today we’re telling their story.

The Magical Start of Gennett Records

Ever heard of Gennett Records? 🌟🎶 It’s a hidden gem in Richmond, Indiana that changed the landscape of American blues and jazz. 🎷 Imagine being in a place that launched careers of legends like Louis Armstrong and King Oliver in the 1920s. This was where the likes of Hoagy Carmichael and Blind Lemon Jefferson also kicked off their musical journeys. 🎤

The Starr Piano Connection

But wait, let’s take a step back. Before Gennett Records, there was the Starr Piano Company. 🎹 Founded near the Ohio River in Ripley, Ohio, it eventually moved to Richmond, Indiana in 1872. Starr Piano became a big name in the piano world, even grabbing awards at major events like the St. Louis World’s Fair. 🏆

The Phonograph Boom

So, what happens when record players start getting trendy? 🎵 Starr Piano decides to hop on the bandwagon. After introducing their line of record players in 1915, the next step was pretty clear: make records! 🎼 And in October 1917, Gennett Records was born. 🌱

The Roaring ’20s: Jazz, Blues, and Everything In-Between

The 1920s were a magical time for Gennett Records. 🎉 Not just jazz, but also blues, gospel, and even the early strains of country found a home here. Their Richmond factory was a musical haven where legends like Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington made timeless records. 🎙️🎺

The Hard Times: The ’30s and Beyond

But as we know, all good things come to an end. 😔 The Great Depression hit Gennett hard. By the mid-’30s, the label was no longer the musical powerhouse it used to be. Despite various attempts to revive it, by the late ’40s Gennett had lost its mojo. 📉⏳

The Legacy Lives On

But guess what? The music never really dies. 🎵 In 2007, the Starr-Gennett Foundation set up the Gennett Walk of Fame in Richmond. It’s part of the scenic Whitewater Gorge Trail and honors the iconic artists from the Gennett era. 🌟🌈

Wrapping It Up

So, if you’re a music lover hunting for untold stories and roots of American music, the Gennett Walk of Fame in Richmond, Indiana is a must-visit. 🎸 It’s not just a stroll down memory lane, but a trip back to the golden days of American jazz and blues. 🎷🎵

✅ Don’t miss out! Listen to today’s podcast episode, Gennett Records: America’s Home of Blues and Jazz…in Indiana – where we delve even deeper into this story. Remember, we release new episodes of Travel with Jack and Kitty every day! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 🎙️❤️

Show Notes: Links to Stuff We Talk About

Gennett Records: Spotify Playlist
Wanna listen to some of the music made for Gennett Records? This is a fun Spotify playlist of 1920s tunes and is a great companion for today’s epsiode! 🤗