Music of the 30’s
The thirties was a time when Jazz, Blues, and Swing music were the vogue, and traveling territory bands brought music to whatever venues they could. The band Billie Jo plays with, The Black Mesa Boys, would be one example of such a band.
Although the Great Depression made it difficult for communities to afford entertainment, and territory bands struggled to carry on, what we see in Out of the Dust is music acting as a refuge, and well worth the price.
When Billie Jo sits at the piano and plays the music comes out of her, indicative of the improvisational style of Jazz and Swing, this spontaneity in music marks several of the genres that dominated in the thirties. Even though both Jazz and Swing were in their more “big band” phases on the east coast, in the dust bowl, they made do.
Music was one form of diversion during the depression, and since almost everyone owned a radio during that time, families often listened to music on the radio in order to relax and escape from the tragedy surrounding them. Radio’s popularity also surged with President Roosevelt’s fireside chats, which reached some 60 million listeners on the first broadcast. Radio and music was one constant during this time of sorrow in American history.
This was especially true for Billie Jo, who saw piano as her way out. She enjoyed playing piano with the Black Mesa Boys and wanted to travel with them, but after the accident this was impossible. Mad Dog on the other hand did manage to use music to get himself a job as a performer in Amarillo. Everyone in the town would listen to him on the radio, and Billie Jo wishes that could have been her.
