--by Jaymin Yu On July 28, 1946, the Point Defiance Park natural amphitheater in Tacoma, Washington, resounded with patriotic songs, jazz, and orchestra. The event was the second USO Music Festival; it attracted more than 7,000 people for a community-oriented celebration of unity and hope for the postwar era. Though the event is a largely... Continue Reading →
--by Elizabeth Culp For almost eight decades now, there has been a symphony right in the heart of Tacoma that is composed of members of our community. That’s right - those we see at the grocery store, walking their dogs, driving the streets of downtown Tacoma - are people who play in the Symphony! Changing... Continue Reading →
-- by Emily Gormley A former professor of what is now Pacific Lutheran University, a musical director for Tacoma Theatre productions, and a Lutheran pastor; Carlo Alberto Sperati (1860-1945) made his mark upon Tacoma through community in equal part to music. Sperati was born in Christiania, Norway (now known as Oslo, Norway) on December 29,... Continue Reading →
-- by Dawn Ross Vicci Martinez may live on the other side of the country now, but she likes to share that her Tacoma roots run deep, being the first baby to be born in her mother’s delivery room at the new (in 1984) Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Martinez discovered a love of playing and... Continue Reading →
-- by Azana Cain Tacoma has brought us some amazing musicians throughout history. But one fresh artist you may not have heard about is Stephanie Anne Johnson. Johnson is a powerful and moving singer, songwriter, guitarist, and performer born and raised in Tacoma. They have a long history of accomplishments in music, going back to... Continue Reading →
-- by Ash Leon Guerrero Every summer, the streets of Tacoma, Washington, pulse with an infectious rhythm that beckons music lovers from all walks of life. The source of this vibrant energy? The Reggae on the Way Festival, an annual celebration that has quickly become a cornerstone of Tacoma’s music scene. Since its inception in... Continue Reading →
-- by Tori Goodrich It is most likely that if you hear someone call something “punk rock,” you have some idea of what they’re referring to, and that can mean different things to a lot of people. Some may picture dyed mohawks and body piercings, some think of rebellious teenagers rocking out in a garage.... Continue Reading →
-- by Trinity Kovalick In the early 1920s live music was the bees knees. A budding city like Tacoma had been gaining in popularity as they didn’t adhere to strict rules like Blue Laws that required venues in Seattle to stop playing music at a certain hour. Linked directly to prohibition and founded out of... Continue Reading →
-- by Meadow Erhardt Growing up, Nasty Nes would visit his sister every year in New York City, where he was exposed to the world of hip-hop music. He brought hip-hop music with him when he returned home to Seattle. Nes started his music career by being a DJ for high school dances and functions,... Continue Reading →
-- by Joe Seats In the mid-90s, Seattle made itself known as the home of grunge. Grunge music was among the most notorious things to come out of the Pacific Northwest, birthing bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. It generated a fusion between metal and punk, building a new rock style with heavy distortion... Continue Reading →
Tacoma Music History 