🎹 The Untold Story of Boogie Woogie’s Wild Beginnings

Imagine this: it’s the early 1900s. A battered piano sits in the corner of a dusty Texas lumber camp.

The air is thick with sweat, laughter, and the rhythmic stomping of boots.

Someone is pounding out a rhythm so alive it makes even the tired workers tap their feet, impossible to ignore.

This is where boogie woogie was born—a music born of struggle, joy, and the unstoppable urge to move.

And somehow, over 100 years later, it made its way into my life—and yours.

When I first heard boogie woogie as a kid coming from classical & jazz music, I couldn’t believe it was a piano making that kind of noise.

The left hand was this unstoppable freight train. The right hand danced over the keys like pure magic.

It was electric. It was ALIVE.

But I soon realised something else: hardly anyone my age was playing it.

As I got older, I couldn’t shake the thought… Why isn’t everyone learning this? 

It’s music that tells a story—a story of resilience, fun, and community. And yet, it’s fading away.

That’s why I made it my mission to keep it alive.

And in all honesty, there’s no better way to do that than by passing it on to people like you.

As I dove deeper into this music, I discovered its incredible history—and how close we are to losing it if we don’t pass it on.

Boogie woogie started in places you’d least expect—tiny towns in Texas and Louisiana.

Musicians took pianos to bars, juke joints, and logging camps to entertain workers.

The players? They didn’t have formal training or fancy instruments.

They had rhythm, creativity, and a deep love for the music.

Legends like Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, and Pete Johnson took it from those humble roots and made it famous.

They turned it into a staple of swing, jazz, and early rock ’n’ roll.

But for every legend, many unnamed players loved this music.

And that’s what makes boogie woogie so special—it belongs to everyone. It’s about bringing people together and making them feel something.

And it matters now more than ever.

I’ll be honest: boogie woogie is a dying art. Most people today don’t even know what it is. (especially my generation)

But when they hear it, their eyes light up. They smile. They tap their feet. EVERY. TIME.

It reminds them of a different time—a time when music brought people together and joy was just a piano riff away.

It gives them incredible energy. It lifts their mood.

And here’s the truth: we’re the ones who get to keep it alive.

No matter if you want to play for fun, impress your family, or keep a musical legacy alive, you’re part of the story now.

Every person who learns boogie woogie helps keep it alive.

And since you’re subscribed to my newsletter and you’re in fact reading this right now, I deem you also responsible and able to help me with this mission.

I wrote this email due to an inspiring conversation with a (now) new student of mine in Boogie Woogie Mastery, named Terrance.

We talked about how it’s in our responsibility to learn and pass this music on. How if we don’t do it, the ones who are passionate and eager, who will?

You don’t need a fancy piano or years of experience. All you need is the willingness to start, and the motivation to keep goin’.

If you're serious about your goals like Terrance, check out Boogie Woogie Mastery, join us in our movement, and work with me one-on-one to master this musical style with all its rich history.

Let’s bring boogie woogie back together—one riff at a time.

Keep on Boogie-ing, 
Jonah
Founder, Boogie Woogie Mastery

P.S. Check out this awesome documentary of boogie woogies history. 👇🏻

One of my students, Peter, posted this in the community section of Boogie Woogie Mastery, so I wanted to share it with all of you who aren’t part of BWM yet. (see below)