National Jukebox Day celebrates the ever-evolving music players' remarkable past, present, and future.  Long before home stereos, portable cassette players, 8-track tapes, and music streaming services, people plugged coins into the beautiful machines to select and play their favorite tunes.

Photo Credit: Keith B. via Canva
Photo Credit: Keith B. via Canva
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Louis Glass and William S. Arnold invented the first coin-operated record player in 1889 in San Francisco. However, by 1905, John Gabel introduced the "Automatic Entertainer." It offered 24 song selections. 

The 1930s is considered "The Golden Era" of jukebox manufacturers. The makers built jukeboxes for diners, saloons, and other entertainment venues. Demand for the newest and greatest technology soon took hold, making Jukeboxes more than music players. Instead, they became Neon and sci-fi centerpieces.

Post-WW ll, design concepts saw a complete change, with updated materials and aesthetics, not to mention an increase in song selections and variety.

Photo Credit: Keith B. via Canva
Photo Credit: Keith B. via Canva
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For the decade of the 1990s, compact discs replaced the older record-style players. Then, in 1998 the first digital networked music jukebox let people search and browse from a library with 750 digital songs.

Finally, in 2011, a multi-application platform was made to appeal to a tech-savvy audience. Today, users can choose from hundreds of thousands of songs available at the press of a button.

The jukebox story is a fun, fascinating history and a unique piece of our lives.

But ultimately the jukebox is about the music, and that's our Rodeo Really Tough Trivia Question: 

What Country song holds the title of being the song most played on a Jukebox

A. On the Road Again by Willie Nelson

B. The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

C. Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus

D. Crazy by Patsy Cline

D. Patsy Cline's "Crazy" holds the distinction as the most-played song on jukeboxes in the United States, according to the Amusement and Music Operators Association, 

Enjoy this fun reaction from Youtuber Kingdom Reacts as he hears Patsy Cline sing Crazy for the first time.

Written by Willie Nelson when he was trying to sell his songs for rent and food, "Crazy" was made famous by Patsy Cline. She brought the music to the number two spot on the country charts and had crossover success, reaching number nine on the U.S. Hot 100 chart.

Photo Credit: Keith B. via Canvas
Photo Credit: Keith B. via Canvas
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