Harlem Hellfighters: Jazz Goes to War - Lytle Memorial Concert

Jazz made its path abroad in 1918 during the “Great War” when one black officer, Lt. James Reese Europe, volunteered for service with members of his Harlem Society Orchestra, forming the 369th Regimental Band. Because the U.S. Army did not allow black soldiers to fight alongside white comrades, the soldiers instead fought with the French and earned the moniker “Hellfighters,” along with the Croix de Guerre for their heroism. The Harlem Hellfighters also brought jazz with them, and from Paris the music spread around the globe, becoming the rhythm of the 20th century. The 19th Annual Lytle Benefit Concert pays homage to the Harlem Hellfighters’ enduring legacy and raises scholarship funds for promising students attending the Preuss School at UC San Diego. Series: "Rebecca Lytle Memorial Concerts" [Humanities] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 29489]