Jelly Roll, Bix, and Hoagy: Gennett Studios and the Birth of Recorded Jazz

"Delightful history of Gennett Records, its parent the Starr Piano Company of Richmond, Indiana, in the 1920s, and the birth of recorded jazz... For jazz followers, not to be missed. A huge success."Â —Kirkus Reviews

"... a labor of love if ever there was one.... [Gennett] helped get everything started, and we are in Rick Kennedy's debt for paying it due tribute." —Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post

"... lively and anecdotal history... "Â —JazzTimes

From 1917 to 1932, in a primitive studio next to the railroad tracks, the Gennett family of Richmond, Indiana recorded some of the earliest performances of jazz, blues, and country greats—including Jelly Roll Morton, Big Bill Broonzy, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Gene Autry, Bix Beiderbecke, and native Hoosier Hoagy Carmichael (whose "Stardust" debuted on Gennett as a dance stomp).

ÂJelly Roll, Bix, and Hoagy is the first detailed account of the people and events behind this unique company. Personalized by anecdotes from musicians, employees, and family members, it traces the colorful history of a pioneer recording company.