By Lili Jimenez

Music has been important, not only for social change but for inspiration and creation. I had the great pleasure of knowing the Ruarks for a huge portion of my life. Nan and Jerry were two prominent individuals in the scene of music for a large portion of time in Indiana and in the Midwest as well. Music had impacted them so deeply they decided to make a business of it to help influence others in different genres of music and what music can do for you and in the messages they provide. Nan and Jerry knew all about music and how it was deeply intertwined with social change and how music can impact and influence others as well as phase out and comeback and influence even newer generations. Jazz was a genre that was very popular among them, as well as a different style of jazz titled swing. Jazz has had a huge impact and influence within social change and the way that it has evolved through time. It is important not only to discuss Nan and Gerald Ruark and their record store and music collectors conventions they had but as well to zero in on jazz and swing and how that has impacted protesting and social change ranging from the early 1900s and even now. 

Analyzing jazz and its origins using Lloyd Blitzer’s concepts of  “The Rhetorical Situation” by looking at exigence as its creation of jazz for African Americans to come together despite such hate and segregation during those times. Looking at the audience of jazz as those who faced such difficult times and had this music to bring them together. The constraints being that jazz was looked at differently because it was created by said African-Americans during the time when there was so much hate and that later on once music evolved when times were changing, it became a phenomenon where white people decided that this style and genre of music was something that they could also participate and create. There are many layers to jazz so it is important to understand its origins, how it is connected to social change and how people like Nan and Jerry Ruark impacted many, including myself on this very important genre of music that has had a long history and that has evolved through time.

Firstly, I want to begin talking about the people that have impacted me deeply and the sense of understanding and analyzing music. Gerald Ruark grew up loving music so much, he even loved being a part of creating music, specifically playing drums. He understood that music was more than just melodies and tunes, he understood that the words behind it were more important as well as the instruments that went into creating different pieces of music. Nan was his other half and she was infected with the love of music because she loved him. Together, they created a store named “Alpha Records” where they sold records, cassettes, LP’s, magazines and more. Since they both had such a fascination and admiration for music they traveled to follow jazz as it grew from the 80s to the 2000s. It’s also incredibly important to know that after they closed down their store “Alpha Records” they were incredibly instrumental within the music scene in the Midwest and more concentrated within Indiana. It is unknown if they began the trend of music collectors conventions around the Midwest, but they were one of the first to host music conventions around the Midwest such as in Indianapolis, Nashville, Louisville and more!

They were not alone in their journey in starting the “Alpha Records Music Collectors Convention” many came to sell music, posters and more and this attracted those who were passionate about music as well. But due to the turn of technology, they adapted quickly to the new idea of technology and the Internet and used this to their advantage to reach an even bigger audience who were interested in music and memorabilia of music ranging from Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Spike Jones and so much more. Nan handled the business side and the inventory, which was so much that you can even imagine, I saw it with my own eyes and the amount of music they collected over many years is astounding and goes to show how passionate Jerry was when it came to music and when it came to creating a community within music and inspiring others to enjoy the same genres of rock, jazz, swing and others. 

Gerald Ruark was always fascinated by music, he enjoyed a variety of jazz including swing and he absolutely loved Spike Jones. From the early days that I can remember, music was always a huge part of him as well as Nan. Occasionally, sometimes I would even witness Jerry play with other musicians in hotels to an audience of course, he would always play drums but it was always interesting to me because I knew him as a record collector and I knew that he liked playing drums, but I never knew that he also played with others so seeing him playing music and its impact on an audience was inspiring. He was inspiring because music was a big part of his identity and not only did he impact his community by starting collectors conventions around the Midwest with his wife, but he also made it a point to impact others in his life on his knowledge of music. He relayed to me and my siblings how music was greatly important, not only to himself but to the world. As previously mentioned, he studied music, he studied lyrics, and he studied instruments. Sometimes he would let me listen to a certain jazz song and he would point out different instruments and point out certain lyrics to me so that I could be a more informed music listener, he was one of the first to make me analyze pieces of media more deeply. Within his impact on me and my siblings about different forms of music and different lyrics packed into different forms of media like cassettes, records, LPS and even visual media such as posters and books, he was heavily inspired and impacted by the genre of jazz. 

The love that he had for jazz was unlike anything that I’ve seen before, he loved it so much that he collected so much of it, he inspired his community and he set out to even be a part of jazz. He involved himself with bands and even played with the infamous Freddie Hubbard. At the time that he played with Freddie he was not aware of the impact that Freddie would have on jazz. But I think that’s important. He didn’t involve himself with people for the sake of getting famous or getting known in terms of the music. He was a part of jazz and a part of the music scene because he was heavily inspired and because he felt that music was a great part of his identity. It was such a great part of his identity that he influenced people such as his wife and even me and my siblings to look at different genres of music and not to immediately dislike it because they might not be genres we like but to look at them and listen to them and deeply understand what it is that they are trying to say as well as influencing us to pay attention to the melody in how it plays into the lyrics that they’re trying to convey. Jazz was a big part of Gerald’s life and in turn it was part of my life, jazz is so important that is a huge part of social change not only because of how jazz was originated, but as well as how it is has been a voice for many and spoken on different societal subjects, as well as how it has evolved and transpired into today’s time.

In order to be a more critical analyst of jazz, it is important to trace it back to its creation and it’s purpose. In the book “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” Weissman (2010) states in Chapter 3, “The primary musical styles that typify African American music emerged in the nineteenth century, during this period of maximum oppression. Most every genre of music that later developed and influenced the music of the entire world appeared in African American culture during the last half of the nineteenth century. Work songs, hollers, blues, ragtime, and even the building blocks that would lead to jazz all appeared during this time” (Weissman, 2010,

p.73-74). The building blocks were important to mention because in it was the infamous jazz genre we now know. In an article titled “The Origins Of Jazz” Rodd et al. (2024) state, “One of the main reasons it formed there was that slaves from a wide variety of nations could come together and play music, something that wasn’t always permitted in other cities or states” (Rodd et al., 2024). After it’s creation, jazz had evolved and evolved to different subgenres as well as reaching a bigger audience. Among that subgenre of jazz there was “swing”. Rodd et al. (2024) state further, “Swing started in the late 1920s, becoming broadly popular by the mid-1930s and remaining so until the mid-1940s” (Rodd et al., 2024). I felt that it was important to mention swing because as previously mentioned this subgenre of jazz really resonated with Gerald Ruark. 

The origins and some of the music associated with it as well were political. Weissman (2010) states in chapter 3,  “Many of the bebop musicians, however, were literate and politically aware, and became caught up in the political turmoil of the 1960s involving the civil rights movement”  (Weissman, 2010, p.107). The rhetoric of this genre has impacted people to either come together or to come together and realize their struggles. In the book “Persuasion and Social Movements” Stewart et al. (2012) state “Instruments such as drums, trumpets, guitars, and harmonicas create forbidding and even apocalyptic moods. Rhythm may reduce inhibitions and defense mechanisms and make audiences more susceptible to rhetorical elements that portray an intolerable situation that warrants urgent attention and action” (Stewart et al., 2012,

p.156). In this genre there have been many artists who have contributed monumentally to what jazz is known for today and how impactful it has been with how music has evolved and it’s impact around the world. Artists such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and more are incredibly important when analyzing music’s impact from the early 1900s to mid 1900s. Looking at its origins and the reason why people came together and created the music known as jazz, times changed, and people adapted and people decided to take some things and change some things regarding this music but ultimately this evolved to the creation of other sub genres including swing.  Rodd et al. (2024) state, “Jazz as a separate, official genre may date back to the late1800s or early 1900s. However, jazz didn’t come into its own until the 1920s. Many consider the

1920s the start of the jazz age since that’s when it first became broadly popular in the US and Europe” (Rodd et al., 2024). Considering the political creation of jazz some of the subgenres did not have the same messages in certain music, some music was made simply for enjoyment and to have a good time. Weissman (2010) states in chapter 3, “A Frank-Zappa-esque extension of the Louis Jordan persona was guitarist-singer Slim Gaillard. Gaillard was a blues-oriented jazz hipster who invented meaningless but funny slang phrases that went along with the jive tradition of late swing”  (Weissman, 2010, p.98). I believe the reason why Gerald chose and felt a deeper connection with jazz was due to the political importance as well as the known fact that jazz went into and was a part of various music genres. Swing was a big part of Jerry’s life and perhaps the reason he decided to make his passion something he could connect with others by, thus the creation of their record store “Alpha Records” and music collectors conventions around the midwest. 

 Stewart et al. (2012) state “Human language is the vehicle for political and social thought, debate, and action. It is a powerful tool and is far more than a collection of words and rules for proper usage” (Stewart et al., 2012, p.139). I believe this is a very powerful quote not only because it encapsulates the power that symbols can have on social change, but as well as the fact that you can apply this to a variety of music and songs. Music and songs can be such a powerful tool for change. Regarding jazz it has been known that it’s mere creation was extremely political, there have also been a handful of artists who have made protest music and the form of jazz that have greatly impacted culture and society ranging from when it was created in the 1900s to even now in the 2000s. While jazz may not be an extremely popular genre of today’s culture it still impacts thought and music even if we do not understand why or how.  Stewart et al. (2012) state “Division permeates both our society and the social movement that would change or sustain the status quo, but communication can help societal elements, articulate differences, and relate to one another. Through communication we may transcend to higher planes of meaning that enable us to overcome differences” (Stewart et al., 2012, p.140). This is an important lens to look at when analyzing rhetoric, especially rhetoric in music and in this particular genre of music. Jazz was created at a time of such high division and hate within America and it is important to not only pay attention to the instruments we may hear when listening to jazz, but as well as to the words that may be spoken, as well as to remember the origins and how it has evolved and changed throughout society.

Gerald and Nan Ruark have left a lasting legacy, whether it has been being one of the first people to create music collectors conventions around the Midwest, their record store as well as their online presence within expanding others knowledge on music and selling said music. They made a lasting legacy within myself and my family, inspiring us with the gift of music and the ability to become an active consumer within music and to focus and analyze the deeper meaning. Jazz was not only important within their lives. It was also important within society. Culture ranging back from the early 1900s all the way till now. It has a long history, especially a political one. It is important to look back on this genre of music and to not be blinded by how it has been changed, to look at it and see those who have greatly impacted the history of jazz. It was created as a way for people to come together despite such division and hate and it must be analyzed and honored as music so closely related to African-Americans. They were the ones who created such important music and they will forever be immortalized for creating so many different parts of culture that we now recognize within an American society today, but especially jazz. Now you might look at jazz and see primarily white people, but to be a critical analyst of music and  rhetoric it takes research and it takes time however, it’s always possible to understand the deep impact that rhetoric can have especially in music and the way that this form of rhetoric can impact and create social change as we know it. Jazz will forever remain one of the most important catalyst of social change as well as a form of music that can create community and connection with others who may be suffering the same way as you, as well as having a sense of community with others who enjoy the same type of genre or subgenre that you listen to. Social change always starts somewhere and music can and forever will be a rhetoric that inspires us all.

References

Weissman, D. (2010). Talkin’ ’bout a revolution: Music and social change in America.

Backbeat Books, an imprint of Hal Leonard Corporation. 

Rodd, Burns, M., jazzman123, Jazzman123the2nd, LozOJazz., Bates, D., & Boris. (2024,

August 23). The origins of Jazz. Jazz Observer. https://jazzobserver.com/the-origins-of-jazz/  Stewart, C. J., Smith, C. A., & Denton, R. E. (2012). Persuasion and social movements. Waveland Press.