Spasm Band, New Orleans - Courtesy Hogan Jazz Archive, Tulane Univeristy

At the turn of the century, the people of New Orleans were from many different cultures. The city had been a French territory during the 1700's with a short period of Spanish rule. French and Spanish settlers shaped New Orleans' culture. In the 1800's settlers from England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Italy migrated to this prosperous city. As new settlers arrived in the New Orleans' seaport, musical traditions from all over the world began coming together. African American musicians merged European traditions with the blues, ragtime, marching band music and many other elements to create a new style of music known as "jazz."