Organized Crime in America and the History of Jazz Music, 1900-1950

• In Event: Crime and Music

Abstract

In the literature on the history of jazz music working for gangsters in barrelhouses, cabarets and night clubs is usually considered to have been one of the hurdles musicians have had to overcome in order to gain the respected status that jazz enjoys to-day. However, Robert L. Morris has argued in 1980 (‘Wait until dark’) that the mob performed a benefactor role in organizing jazz music and in the protection of black musicians. Has this been the mere romantic idea of an outsider? The study of a series of individual biographies of jazz protagonists supports the idea that relationships between gangsters and musicians have been friendly and warm. This insight provides support for the idea that organized crime has fulfilled ‘positive functions’ by offering patronage, not only in sports (boxing, horse racing) but also in the development of the entertainment industry.

Author

• Frank Bovenkerk, University of Utrecht Willem Pompe Institute