American music wasn't always in Paris. Originally, up until the early 20th century, all music in Paris was in French and was largely centered around classical ideas and composers. Music was made for entertainment, whether through dance (especially ballet) or through performances by symphonies and orchestras. With the turn of the century into the turn of the first World War, though, the music scene in Paris began shifting. World War I brought American soldiers into Paris. The Germans were pushing through northern France towards the end of the war and the French forces feared they would soon come for Paris. When the Americans landed in Paris, they were accepted with glory and celebration. There was large fascination by these American soldiers and all that they brought along with them.
With these American soldiers came American military bands. Military bands, used since the Revolutionary and Civil wars, aim at boosting morale and encouraging soldiers to keep fighting. The popularity of these bands had died down until Congress authorized a new school for Army band men in New York in 1911. In America at the time, there were new sparks and rises of Jazz tunes and more upbeat music patterns. When the American bands arrived in Paris, they brought those sparks and new songs. They performed all around Paris for Americans and also for the French natives in attempts to better moods and lighten situations. These mini concerts were the start of the American musical invasion in Paris. The French fell under the spell of the newness of the melodies, especially those performed by the bands with more Black members as they had never heard the jazzy melodies that they performed. Even after the bands left following the end of the war, the infatuation with American music remained.
American music's popularity in France was proliferated by the simultaneously popular record player and radio. Parisians easily found ways to hear American songs and records thanks to these technologies. Eventually, Parisian love for jazz increased to the point that the French started opening their own jazz clubs in the heart of Paris and were visited by famous American jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Though little of the population could understand the language itself of the songs, the appreciation for the music talents was still present, continuing the popularity of these American tunes. Music halls and theaters began showing American shows and promoting American artists. American music was seen as cool and trendy, something that the elite had more access to and that the youth was more "in" if they listened to.
American music continued to charm the people of Paris, especially younger generations. A new wave of popularity for American music came again with the return of American troops with World War II. Americans distributed records of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and many other popular artists of the time. These records were some of the only ones given out during the War because of the strict restrictions provided by the German forces. French clung to these songs and albums because of their cravings for something new and upbeat and because of their hope for salvation by the American forces. Following the end of the war and the liberation of France, the Parisians continued to follow American music and opened more and more jazz cafés, especially along Rue Saint Germain des Prés. American artists continued to perform in Paris and eventually held an event called Paris Jazz Concert in 1958, featuring Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane.
Following the jazz craze, though, came the newfound interest in American rock and roll. The first juke box was installed in Paris as well as the first exports of American rock records into the city. French artists began styling their own music after these American styles and even changed their names at times to sound more American. Songs of Elvis Presley, the Stooges, and Jimi Hendrix became played around the city, especially by again younger generations and at younger clubs and bars.
This trend of music becoming popularized and then spreading to Paris continued throughout the mid to later end of the 20th century, eased by the inventions of television, walkman, better radios in automobiles, and other simpler ways to listen to music. Eventually, American music would find its way into Paris quicker than the earlier days of the 1900s, leading to its commonality in the city's population. Parisians continued and still continue to be fascinated by American music, especially those popular songs of the jazz and rock and roll days.
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