Swing, as both a musical genre and performance style, emerged in the United States at the end of the 1920s. The consolidation of the big band as a jazz orchestra, the increasing emphasis on instrumental improvisation on melodic riffs and contagious, blistering rhythms are basic characteristics of this dance style, which lived its Golden Age between 1935 and 1946. Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong are some of the names who popularised this genre, which consolidated its success in radio broadcasts. The influence of rhythm and blues and the incipient rock and roll could also be seen during this period.