From the 1800s through the 1920s, minstrel shows were very popular. Minstrel shows were the predecessor to Vaudeville shows (variety theater shows). Minstrel shows were the equivalent to today's act of going to the movie theater.

Despite how negatively these shows portrayed black culture, they did good in that they paved the way for jazz's popularity by bringing the sounds of country blues and other sounds of black culture to white America.

It was not uncommon for actors in minstrel shows to perform in black face (as seen in the video). Sometimes even, freed slaves would perform in black face in minstrel shows. By doing this, the audience wouldn't necessarily know they were watching a black performer and thus were okay continuing to watch the show. Most often times, these free slave actors would adapt character they themselves created for the show.

Daddy Rice was perhaps the most successful minstrel show leader. He had a multitude of successful shows and had a heavy impact on the general public. Two characters which he created became integrated into the culture of the time: Zip Coon and Jim Crow. Because of how popular these names became, imagine how popular the music predating jazz was becoming.

"To the person who uses music as a medium for the expression of ideas, feelings, images, or what have you; anything which facilitates this expression is properly his instrument" - Bill Evans