This course examines the development of American popular music, from the sounds of Dixieland, through bebop and modern jazz, to today’s popular fusions of traditional jazz with rock, hip hop, and other emerging styles.  The course will examine music through each decade of the 20th century, including a study of the music theater, Vaudeville, blues, Dixieland, the big band era, rock and roll, hard rock, metal, folk, country, rap and hip hop.