Lieut. Jim Europe's band caused a sensation overseas during World War I, setting off a fresh ragtime craze in France. Back in the states, its success helped to break the color barrier in American popular music, and Pathé lost no time in announcing its new Hell Fighters records.

This Pathé announcement for Europe's first records appeared in the Talking Machine World for May 15, 1919, just four days after Europe was murdered by his drummer.

Click here for a free online discography of Jim Europe's recordings, including rare Europe photos from the Mainspring Press collection.