1993-99 Legends of American Music Series

US#2724//3350

1993-1999 Legends of American Music Series

13 Full Mint Sheets

Now you can get 13 Mint-Fresh Legends of American Music Sheets…

All in one convenient order and SAVE over $45!   

Stamp Category:  Commemorative                             

Series:  Legends of American Music

Value:  29c/32c/33c – First-Class postage rate

First Days of Issue:  Various – from June 16, 1993 Rock ‘n’ Roll/Rhythm & Blues to September 21, 1999 Broadway Songwriters)

Format:  Semi-jumbo stamps in sheets of 20 subjects, and in sheets of 35 (#2724-30 and #2854-61)

Why the stamps were issued:  To honor the greatest names from each of America’s unique musical styles. 

The history this series represents:  The Legends of American Music Series ran from 1993 until 1999.  More than 90 performers and musicians are represented from all styles of music:  rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country and western, jazz and pop, opera and classical, gospel and folk.  In addition to individual singers and Broadway musicals, subjects include bandleaders, classical composers, Hollywood songwriters and composers, plus conductors and lyricists.

Though a series of this kind had been considered several years before, the demand for an Elvis stamp helped make it happen.  Fans were clamoring for an Elvis stamp, while other people, including some members of the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee, were against it.  Elvis wasn’t anyone’s role model, especially with his abuse of prescription drugs.  The concept that got Elvis on a stamp was that acceptance would be better among the doubters if Elvis were part of a series to honor America’s contributions to the musical world.  And then-Postmaster Anthony Frank really wanted the US Postal Service to honor Elvis on a stamp.  In 1992, he was finally able to announce the stamp, and tell the world it would be the first in a series honoring other greats from several American musical traditions.  

The 29c “young Elvis” stamp kicked off the series in a big and very public way.  Its design was voted on by over one million Americans, about 75% of whom favored the younger Elvis design (by Mark Stutzman) over the “old Elvis” version.  So Elvis fans finally got their wish when the stamp was issued on January 8th, his birthday.  It became the best-selling commemorative stamp in US history. 

The Elvis stamp was also issued June 16th in a 7-stamp se-tenant set, along with six other Rock ‘n’ Roll/Rhythm & Blues greats, on a pane of 35.  Elvis’ name now appeared in full on his stamp.  The other artists on the pane were:  Buddy Holly, Otis Redding, Ritchie Valens, Dinah Washington, Bill Haley, and Clyde McPhatter.  

A booklet pane of 8 (with two Elvis stamps) and a pane of 4 featuring Elvis, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly and Dinah Washington were issued on the same day.  (Several design differences from the sheet stamps exist on the booklet stamps.)

The Legends of American Music Series was a huge advancement for diversity because it honored many Black and female artists. 

Here’s what you get in this money-saving 13 mint sheet offer:

US #2724-30 – Rock ‘n’ Roll/Rhythm & Blues Singers

US #2771-74 – Country and Western Singers

US #2849-53 – Popular Singers

US #2854-61 – Blues and Jazz Singers

US #2983-92 – Jazz Musicians

US #3096-99 – Big Band Leaders

US #3100-03 – Songwriters

US #3154-57 – Opera Singers

US #3158-65 – Conductors and Composers

US #3212-15 – Folk Musicians

US #3216-19 – Gospel Singers

US #3339-44 – Hollywood Composers

US #3345-50 – Broadway Songwriters