Duke Ellington wrote a song in 1931 titled “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” and for a generation of music lovers those were words to live by. Swing music ruled the airwaves and the dance floors throughout the 1930s to the mid-’40s. Musicians of the swing era include Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw and Django Reinhardt.

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Kansas City, New York City and other cities became major centers for the development of the swing style. During the 1920s, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Dallas were vital crossroads resulting in a mix of musical styles and cultures. Swing jam sessions went on well beyond sunrise, fostering a highly competitive atmosphere and a unique music culture.

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The verb "to swing" has come to be known as a term of praise for playing that has a strong groove or drive.