Music of Omaha facts for kids
Omaha, Nebraska, has a rich and exciting music history! It's been a home for many types of music, like jazz, blues, funk, and rock. Today, you can find even more styles, including Latin, alternative rock, and hip hop. Omaha has made important contributions to music, especially with its lively African American music scene starting in the 1920s. More recently, it's known for the "Omaha Sound" in indie rock and is the birthplace of Terry Lewis, a very successful pop music producer.
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Cool Music Spots and Events
Omaha has many places where you can enjoy live music! The Dreamland Ballroom was a famous nightclub in North Omaha. It opened in 1923 and became the top spot for big bands and jazz music. Famous musicians like Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, and Lionel Hampton all played there. Dreamland closed in the 1960s, but the building is still there, now with offices and apartments.
Today, places like Sokol Auditorium and its smaller space, Sokol Underground, are popular concert spots. Other newer places for indie music include The Waiting Room, Rock'N'Jocks, and The Mosaic. Many smaller venues and coffee shops also have live performances every night. The Slowdown complex, near the CenturyLink Center, is a cool area with a music venue, shops, restaurants, and apartments.
Omaha also hosts exciting music festivals. The Omaha Blues, Jazz, & Gospel Festival celebrates African American music. The MAHA Music Festival is an annual summer rock music event held by the riverfront. In 2011, the first Red Sky Music Festival brought over 50 bands to TD Ameritrade Park.
Omaha's Music Story
From the 1920s to the early 1960s, the Near North Side neighborhood had a very lively entertainment area. North 24th Street was the center of the African American community, with a busy jazz and rhythm and blues scene. It attracted top swing, blues, and jazz bands from all over the country.
The most important place was the famous Dreamland Ballroom. It opened in 1923 and hosted amazing jazz, blues, and swing performers. These included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, and the original Nat King Cole Trio. Other places to hear music were Jim Bell's Harlem, McGill's Blue Room, and Allen's Showcase Lounge. Because of the rules at the time, musicians like Cab Calloway stayed at special homes when they visited. The intersection of 24th and Lake was even mentioned in the Big Joe Williams song "Omaha Blues."
Famous Musicians from North Omaha
North Omaha used to be a hub for black jazz musicians, 'the triple-A league' where national bands would go to find a player to fill out their ensemble.
George T. McPherson was known as Omaha's first important Black musician. He came to Omaha in the 1870s and opened a music studio. He was called "the leading pianist of the [African-American] race."
Early North Omaha bands included Lewis' Excelsior Brass Band, Dan Desdunes Band, and Lloyd Hunter's Serenaders. Lloyd Hunter's band was the first Omaha band to record music in 1931. Nat Towles was also a well-known band leader based in Omaha.
North Omaha's music scene also produced several nationally famous African American musicians. International Jazz star Preston Love and influential drummer Buddy Miles grew up and played together. They worked together throughout their lives, playing with big names in Rock and Roll, Jazz, R&B, and Funk. Funk band leader Lester Abrams is also from North Omaha. Wynonie Harris, who was one of the founders of rock and roll, started out in North Omaha clubs.
Anna Mae Winburn was another notable musician from the 1940s. She led North Omaha's Cotton Club Boys. Later, she became famous with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
Lalomie (Lomie) Washburn, born in North Omaha, wrote songs and sang backup for legends like Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. She released her own albums and became very popular in Germany. She was inducted into the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame in 2005.
Classical Music
Omaha has a strong classical music scene. The Creighton Orpheum Theater, built in 1895, is the main home of Opera Omaha. This opera company was founded in 1958 and is now a major regional opera house.
The Omaha Symphony Orchestra, started in 1921, is also a major orchestra in the region. The symphony performs at the Holland Performing Arts Center.
New Age and Rock Music
In the 1970s, Chip Davis worked in advertising in Omaha. He wrote jingles, and one song for a fictional truck driver named C.W. McCall became a hit called "Convoy." This song was part of a CB radio craze in 1975 and even led to a movie.
Davis later recorded an album called Fresh Aire under the name Mannheim Steamroller. This album became very popular and won a Grammy Award. In 1984, Mannheim Steamroller released a Christmas album, and their version of "Deck the Halls" became a radio hit. Chip Davis's Christmas tour has been going strong for many years.
Pop Music
Pop music producer Terry Lewis was born in Omaha in 1956. He is half of one of the most successful music production teams ever. Lewis helped create hits for many modern stars, including Janet Jackson.
Modern African American Music
African Americans continue to make great contributions to music in Omaha and across the country. Other artists from Omaha's modern African American music scene include Thomas Wilkins, who directs the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, and Lois "Lady Mac" McMorris, a lead guitarist and singer.
Hip Hop
Omaha also has a growing underground hip hop scene. In the 1980s, North High School graduate Houston Alexander, also known as Scrib or FAS/ONE, led a hip hop movement in North Omaha. His group, the Scribble Crew, was known for their graffiti art around the city. This art is still respected today. Alexander's Midwest Alliance group was active through the 1990s and influenced the Omaha scene.
Today, Houston Alexander is a DJ on a local radio station. He hosts an independent music show that features hip hop. He also runs a program for elementary school students called the "Culture Shock School Tour," which teaches them about hip hop.
OTR Entertainment, also known as OTR Familia, specializes in Latin hip hop. They have artists like Xpreshin, OMC, and Mix Of Combinations. Their artists have opened for big acts like Aventura and Pitbull. Jerry Wade, also known as DJ Kamikaze, was part of Omaha's Posse-N-Effect, which started in 1989. Pigeon John, a popular Christian rapper, is also from Omaha. Cerone Thompson, known as Scrybe, has had number one songs on college radio stations.
Mars Black is an Omaha rapper who has gained national attention. He released an album on Team Love Records in New York City.
The Raleigh Science Project, started in 2009 by Omaha rapper and producer Marcey Yates (Op2mus), is a music and arts group. It helps artists grow and plans community events. The group includes Omaha rappers Mars Black, Mark Patrick, and Xoboi. In 2016, they held their first "New Generation Music Festival."
Original 5 Productions, founded in 2001 by Tomas Contreras, is another local label. They have released music by Tomas C and Tha Originators.
Many hip hop shows are held at the Sokol Auditorium in Omaha's Little Bohemia. Other popular venues include The Waiting Room, The Slowdown, The Reverb Lounge, and The Lookout Lounge.
Surf Music in Omaha
One of Omaha's most famous bands was The Chevrons, an influential surf band. They were voted Omaha's most popular band in 1966. Other 1960s surf and rock bands from Omaha included The Echos, 7 Legends, and The Beautiful People. Wee Willie and The Rockin Angels broke attendance records at The Peony Park Ballroom. Today, there are still some surf rock bands in Omaha, like The Subvectors.
Indie Rock Music
Fee Waybill, the lead singer of the 1970s punk group The Tubes, was born in Omaha in 1950. His band helped set the stage for Omaha's indie music scene.
Indie rock bands on the Saddle Creek record label from Omaha are very important in the national rock scene. These include famous artists like Bright Eyes, The Faint, and Cursive. This "Omaha Sound" started in the mid-1990s with bands like Commander Venus and clubs like the Cog Factory. Many people involved in these early bands and venues are now part of Saddle Creek.
Omaha's alternative music scene has also produced popular artists like 311, Grasshopper Takeover, The Good Life, and Tilly and the Wall. Omaha has also been a temporary home for other indie bands like Rilo Kiley and Azure Ray.
You can find out about Omaha's music scene from local media like Tim McMahan's Lazy-i, the Omaha World-Herald, hearnebraska.org, and The Reader alt-weekly.
Other important musicians in Omaha's scene are singer/songwriters like Conor Oberst, Tim Kasher, Todd Fink, Maria Taylor, and Simon Joyner.
Three Omaha-based record labels are a big part of the Nebraska music scene: American Gramaphone, Saddle Creek Records, and Team Love Records. American Gramaphone was founded in 1974 by Chip Davis. Saddle Creek Records was founded in 1993 by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst. Oberst also started Team Love in 2003 to help new talent faster.
Other important music venues in Omaha include The Waiting Room Lounge, The Slowdown, The Sydney, and Sokol Underground.
Hard Rock
Omaha has many heavier rock bands. Doug Ingle was the lead singer and organist for the late 60s band Iron Butterfly. Since the year 2000, Omaha has been a strong place for Metalcore bands. Many have become national acts, such as Analog and Paria. Omaha also attracts many Screamo bands. Other notable local groups include Back When and Bloodcow. Social Outcast, led by Joshua Harris, has toured the midwest. Another band is Steve Erlewine's 80-pruuf. A newer hard rock band is Sherry Drive.
Country Music
In 1973, William Dale Fries, Jr. worked for an advertising agency in Omaha. He created a Clio Award-winning TV ad campaign for Old Home Bread using the name C. W. McCall. Fries wrote the lyrics and sang, while Chip Davis wrote the music. This led to Fries becoming a truck-themed outlaw country musician.
McCall is best known for his 1976 number one hit song "Convoy". This song became popular during the CB radio craze in the United States. It was one of the fastest-selling records ever and inspired a movie starring Kris Kristofferson.
Omaha also has many current country artists, including lead singer Jolie Edwards of Jolie & the Wanted.
Jazz and Funk
Omaha has a lively jazz, funk, and jam-rock scene. Bands like The 9's, Polydypsia, Artillery Funk, Video Ranger, Satchel Grande, Lucas Kellison and Assembled Soul, Sarah Benck and the Robbers, Funk Trek, and Anchondo are important in this genre. Famous bands from the past include The Confidentials and The Jazzwholes. Drummer Victor Lewis was born in Omaha.
Images for kids
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DavieBoi Playin Concert in 2008
