Music
Just as music has had a great impact on African American culture, African American culture has had a great influence on this country’s music. Within the African culture, language could have different meanings based on tonal differences when speaking. This transcended into music during slavery. African slaves would sing rhythmic, melodic lines that would help keep everyone motivated during labor, and also help to express feelings like joy and sorrow through song.
African American music during the Civil Rights era was powerful. A common place for African American family and friends to get together was at church. Due to this, the church had great influence on music, incorporating gospel, hymns, and spirituals.
One prominent music movement that happened prior to the Civil Rights era into the 70s was jazz. Jazz played a huge role in African American music and was even considered the “Classical music of America”. Popular jazz artists include Buck Clayton, Sidney Bichet, Louis Armstrong, Lil Hardin, King Joe Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton, Scott Joplin, Fletcher Henderson, Noble Sissle, Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie.
Following the jazz movement was the melodic sound of rhythm and blues. Artists such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Big Joe Turner and Hudie Ledbetter led the way for artists including Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed, Ruth Brown, Little Willie John and others who captivated audiences across the country. These artists helped create a foundation for what was later to be known as “rock and roll” (Powell, 2007)
One major record company was soon established which forever changed the music industry, especially with its impact on African American music. Motown records were established in 1959 in Detroit, Michigan by Berry Gordy Jr. This is the most successful African American owned and operated record company. It has become a cultural icon for American music as a whole, and continues strong today. Well-known artists that have come from Motown records include The Temptations, Jackson 5, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and more (“The Story of Motown”, 2012).
African American music during the Civil Rights era was powerful. A common place for African American family and friends to get together was at church. Due to this, the church had great influence on music, incorporating gospel, hymns, and spirituals.
One prominent music movement that happened prior to the Civil Rights era into the 70s was jazz. Jazz played a huge role in African American music and was even considered the “Classical music of America”. Popular jazz artists include Buck Clayton, Sidney Bichet, Louis Armstrong, Lil Hardin, King Joe Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton, Scott Joplin, Fletcher Henderson, Noble Sissle, Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie.
Following the jazz movement was the melodic sound of rhythm and blues. Artists such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Big Joe Turner and Hudie Ledbetter led the way for artists including Chuck Berry, Jimmy Reed, Ruth Brown, Little Willie John and others who captivated audiences across the country. These artists helped create a foundation for what was later to be known as “rock and roll” (Powell, 2007)
One major record company was soon established which forever changed the music industry, especially with its impact on African American music. Motown records were established in 1959 in Detroit, Michigan by Berry Gordy Jr. This is the most successful African American owned and operated record company. It has become a cultural icon for American music as a whole, and continues strong today. Well-known artists that have come from Motown records include The Temptations, Jackson 5, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and more (“The Story of Motown”, 2012).