[Dixielandjazz] Dixieland before ragtime?

[Bill Gunter]

. . . and speaking of "Oh that's not new - the German Bands (street bands) 
were playing that sort of thing before the Great >(1914-1918) war" . . .

How far back does the yiddish "klezmer" music go back?  I'd guess it 
developed about the same time that dixieland did.  But I really have no 
idea.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill "Thimbles" Gunter

ps.  I've heard it said that Blacks invented the blues and in the same 
breath the speaker said "and whites invented dixieland."  I have no idea 
whether or not any of this is true.

BG