The Early Contributions of African Americans to the World of Music Throughout history African Americans have made many contributions to American culture and have impacted the world of music in monumental ways. African American music introduced unique rhythms and song structure that represented the diversity of cultural influences from Africa. Ultimately, African Americans influenced the creation and evolution of music genres across the country and contributed to the multifaceted impact on the American music industry. African American music was strongly influenced by African culture and traditions. Prior to the 20th century, the rhythm and vocal traditions of African American music, such as the call and response song form can be …show more content…
("African American Music History Timeline," n.d.). Following the release of Crazy Blues, record companies sought female blues artist to match the sales of Mamie Smith’s Crazy Blues. Several black women that promoted the era of classical blues include Alb Hunter, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters and Ma Rainey. ("History of African American Music," n.d.). Ultimately, the evolution of blues music and “race records” created opportunity for African Americans in the recording industry and was highly influential to development and promotion of many music …show more content…
Elvis Presley’s personalized creation and performance of rock transformed the style as a white genre. Elvis credited the musical influences of blues and jazz for the creation of his unique approach to rock and roll. Not only did the early 20th century music inspire Elvis Presley, but well-known, successful groups such as the Rolling Stones and Beatles credit the blues for their inspiration. ("20th Century Music," n.d.). Following the evolution of blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll, came the introduction to many more genres established by African Americans, such as, Hip hop, R&B and Rap. Today, the musical genres created and influenced by African Americans are top sellers in the country, though jazz isn't as popular today it will remain a big part of American culture and history. ("20th Century Music," n.d.). The unfortunate circumstances of the slave trade introduced America to unique sounds, rhythms and song structures of African tradition and influenced the creation of blues, jazz and many more musical genres. Although racism deemed the early development of African American music “immoral”, the lively and diverse music thrived and spread American culture around the world. The multitude of musical genres created and influenced by African Americans have greatly impacted American culture and the American music industry throughout
Influences african community Janet jackson was the most significant
This time period blossomed and had an exploration of creative arts that were performed by African Americans and one of the most influential in African American History. During this time, African Americans paraphrased the stereotype of “Negro” that influenced black people relationship with their heritage. The Harlem Renaissance has been explored through literature, music, art, drama, and poetry. The sound of the saxophone and the trumpets contributed to the Jazz and Blues Music. After the civil war, many African American soldiers came home and they decided to “migrate” from the South due to the discrimination and prejudice received by laws and codes.
Music through out the years have changed with the times. European music during the 1800s was classical composer after the other. Then one day an African American involved himself into crafting a new style of music. Samuel Coleridge Taylor took the exoticnist of African American music and mixed it with contemportrary English music. Not only was Samuel making changed in music; but he also stood against dicrimination and injustice of African American.
Izabella Argueta Professor Copeland Essay 9 MUSH 101 11/17/14 Essay 9 Music in the 20th century was changed by African and African-American in many ways. Due to several jazz type artists as well as adding African type music into the mix. Several types of music that are influenced by African styles include ragtime, blues, and jazz. Without this influence, music would not be what it is today.
• African Americans – The cultural transition from the 1970-1960 promoting African Americans literature, was also a musical and vocal movement for a culture coming of age after the liberation of slavery. The fierce anxiety of post-Civil War racism created a “voice” through artistic creativity, making a deliberate statement of the status of America through African American eyes. The timelines show artist telling a story of character and circumstance. • Asian Americans – The timelines showed advancement in music, literature and theatrical fields. They also showed more popularity of this sub-culture during the last fifty years.
There are countless musicians and artists in the world that have made a change to the music business. Some more than others, but immigrants have added a special twist to the evolution of American born music. They’ve added their own cultural taste of their home music and mixed it with American tunes. For example, Jazz was brought onto the United States by the immigration of African Americans and Europeans. However, they were not the only ones who have made such an accomplishment.
The music during the 20th century reflected jazz and the other genres of music during the Harlem Renaissance. “…the massive amount of genres of music available today most thanks to the Harlem Renaissance. For instance in the 1920's genres such as, Ragtime, jazz, and the blues were very popular….. And
Despite Jazz being formed out of two cultures, the issues of social stratification and racial identity never had to be addressed in early jazz history. But as Jazz grew in popularity in a prewar 1930s America, the issue of racism started to form. As Jazz prospered within the economy and as a musical style, it’s roots revealed it’s racial identity. Jazz emerged from the music used formerly to entertain slaves and was a tool of rebellion against the white man, Jazz’z roots were very much embedded in slave culture. As free slaves moved north, they brought their Jazz influence to parts of the country such as Chicago and New York.
The history, popularity and influence of jazz on human culture make it the seminal American art form. The origins of jazz music are central to its identity and its importance in the American story. Firstly, ragtime
We all know that the power of the Black community in America came from deep in their soul. Their strength and will to fight segregation , and their love can be felt in the civil rights movement. Their ability to express their minds in a non- violent way connects to the soul music that James Brown created. James Brown’s music was a mixture of R&B and gospel. Which in a way connects to what Dr. Martin Luther King was trying to do during the civil rights movement.
The History of Pioneer Black Musicians Music Influence on that of Michael Jackson Michael Jackson was a great singer in his time and one of Americas’ prolific singers to ever grace the music scene. From the time he graced the music scene, he would go on to become a great singer that inspired other great singers during his period and in the future generation. Music has got a unique element that is so unifying and touching depending on the type of music one could be listening. In the history of the United States, black musicians from way back in the early days of singers such as James Brown, Prince, and Smokey Robinson have had an influence on the music culture. There are many genres today that can be traced from black musicians who popularized
Some of them included Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, and Jimmy Lunceford. Interestingly enough, because of the popularity of the music, African Americans were able to produce music and bring it into white society for them to listen to. These African American musicians also influenced many of the white musicians as well. White jazz musicians had taken inspiration from black jazz music for many years, but because of swing, they became even more deeply devoted to integrating this music to blacks and whites. Benny Goodman was one of these white musicians.
The migration of workers to urban areas, prosperity, and the anxiety of social change all contributed to the development of Rock and Roll and Civil Rights. Social anxieties of the Civil Rights Movement such as: institutionalized racial slavery, segregation, discrimination, and the struggle for equality were strongly exemplified throughout African American music, which would soon transform into Rock and Roll. Essentially, Rock music originated amongst the African American culture deriving from jazz, gospel, rhythm, and blues. Ultimately, these genres together corresponded to create Rock and Roll. Seeing that music has the ability to reflect and influence social movements and interactions, the music that becomes popular can gain national recognition (“Concurrent
In the 1920s and 1930s, a large movement of art and literature took place in the city of Harlem. Many African American authors express their thoughts and ideas through anyway possible. Whether it be music, art, or literature, its impact gave the African Americans a new place in society. One composer of music was very influential to all people. His name is Duke Ellington.
Music is not only used to capture peoples hearing but it is used to power peoples minds through the power of an individuals voice. Music served a critical role in the African American’s lives, as it was used to uplift their spirits as well as providing them with hope and strength to fight for civil rights and overcome segregation between white superiority and the unfair treatment of the inferior black. Music was defined as the voice of the people that lived through the oppression of the civil rights movement. During the civil rights movement, there were many different types of music genres sung, dependent on the culture, this included spiritual music; gospel and even folk music, which was performed by musicians, singers and even people of any musical talents. Through this, it brought about the uniting of people to join together and sing songs that helped them go through the oppression of the civil rights movement.