The Year 1997 commemorates the eightieth anniversary of the very first jazz recording, made by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and released by Victor Records in 1917. Founded by Nick LaRocca in 1916, the ODJB was a five piece New Orleans band with an outstanding history reaching back to the roots of New Orleans music. Having recorded the very first ever jazz record in 1917, they were one of the most famous jazz bands. Selling over 1.5 million Victrola records soon after the records release, this group was historically famous for initially introducing jazz to many people worldwide. This group was responsible for the name change of “jass” to “jazz”. After noticing the defacing of the “J” in several record stores record producers had the name changed. This was the first jazz group to perform for US troops in WWI. The ODJB was also the first jazz band to appear in a motion picture, the 1917 film “The Good For Nothing”, and the first jazz band to ...