African-American+Music

**What impact did the music of African-American culture have on our culture today? **
This page was developed by AH-OS and AK-SOTH.

Why is this important to US history?
  I think the impact African American music has on our culture is bigger than it is given credit for. Without the styles of music the enslaved Africans brought with them and combined when they got here, we would not have several of the types of music we have today. Music is a huge part of any culture. It conveys messages and tells stories, and is great entertainment. Music was and is a favorite pastime of many people and I think it will be for a long time. (AH-OS)

African-American music became a huge industry in past years and is still used in much of the music you hear today. Many people don't realize the work that has gone into making the phenomenon of jazz, soul, hip-hop, blues, and many other genres. Our world is constantly changing into a technological force, though it is amazing that people are still incorporating the incredible messages of the past. Keeping the spirit alive is one of the many tasks set before us. We are to take the influence of the past and learn from it to create our own history. (AK-SOTH)

 Most African American musicians came from the South, from the enslaved Africans on the plantations. They would sing for church, entertainment, and notably to tell each other it was time to go on the Underground Railroad. Their songs would be sung in English or in their native tongue, but the point was for the master not to understand. This helped them to send messages to escape, and it would lift their spirits. The enslaved Africans are where our African American music came from.

Several musicians added to our plethora of music types. Scott Joplin was known widely for his talent to play ragtime. In New Orleans, Louisiana, Jazz was created by [|Ferdinand Joseph Lamothe (Jelly Roll Morton)]. He wrote blues, ragtime, stomps and hymns. Some of the songs were “King Porter Stomp,” “The Pearls,” and “Hesitation Blues.” From the few varieties of music our country started with, numerous types of music were created such as Swing, Hip-Hop, Rhythm and Blues, and many more. All throughout the late 1900’s musicians like Nat King Cole, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and countless more pleased our ears with their sweet sounds. Their singing could make people feel sad, happy, want to reminisce or it could just make you want to dance.The power of the music along with their voices moved many around the country, and around the world.

Today, African American music has greatly changed from the days when true meaning was in the songs. Now, very few artists have something worth hearing to sing. Most portray women and men as sex symbols, gangsters, and money bags. These musicians do not say anything that could move people, instead it has made a bad name for respectable ones. Then there are artists like Corinne Bailey Ray, Jill Scott, India Arie, Prince, and Will Smith, that give good messages, and up lift the image of African American musicians of today. (AH-OS)  media type="youtube" key="4n20U8hWHSE" height="307" width="371" (This is my second primary source because it is a song made and sung by Jelly Roll Morton)(AH-OS)    As African Americans were forced into slavery in America, the days were long and hard in the fields. The slaves began to pass the time by developing work songs called Spirituals. The messages in these songs depicted prayers, freedom, positivity, and many other forms of communication. The masters did not mind it, most of the time, so this became a way to communicate with other slaves without authorities understanding a word. Little did they know that these street cries would soon become a huge industry.

After Spirituals reached their high point, Blues, Jazz, and Soul music came into the picture. The Blues were mainly passionate ballads. African Americans began to experiment with variations in the melodic line. This type of music really involved vocal ability as well as heartfelt lyrics when times were tough. Some truly influential Blues artists were Ray Charles, Etta James, Billie Holiday, and B.B. King. Jazz was the next step up. Vocal variations were gaining more and more popularity. Although Jazz included many ballads as well, the vibe they were going for was a beat you could swing to. Dancing was also gaining popularity at this time, so Jazz was the perfect thing to dance to. Popular Jazz artists include Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra. Soul music was essentially a mix of R&B and gospel music. Incredible vocal ability was required, as well as futuristic technical effects. The tempo began reaching higher and higher limits to result in a beat you can have fun and dance to. Some Soul artists you may know are Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder.

African American music is a legend in itself and has been incorporated in much of the music we hear today. Although it may not be as noticable and up-front as it used to be, we still learn from the past. The amazing talent that was recognized a long time ago has shaped the future of the music industry today. Some examples are Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Joss Stone, and John Legend. Our world is constantly changing everyday and we are adjusting fairly well. Music will sell itself if it contains inspirational messages and a fun beat. Our ancestors have taught us well. (AK-SOTH) 

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