How has African American genres have evolved over the Past 100 years?
From the early stages of african influence to modern day Hip hop and R&B, African American music styles have evolved greatly over the past 100 years. It has helped to create a distinct national identity that has been globally popularized for decades.
AFRICA
The early stages of African American music began with the importation of slaves from Africa to America. Many slaves brought the knowledge of instrumentation, song techniques and much more. Banja drums was one of the first percussion that they were able to create whilst living in America.They would use this instrument as another form of communicating with other slaves, and by the 1700s it was banned in many plantations across America. Slaves would use music as a way to uplift their spirits through the hardship, and horrific predicaments they were facing.
Just by tribal and culture differences, it has been able to create many genres that are still heavily popularized centuries later.
Even though religion was another way for slave owners to control their slaves, it also was the early stages of a new genre called gospel music. Even to this day it still creates a great impact within the black community. Gospel Music was also another way that slaves would send subliminal messages to bring hope, motivation, dreams of the freedom land to one another.
BIRTH OF THE BLUES
The civil war was a great success in the case that it allowed many slaves to be free by law. But there was another issue facing America at the time, poverty. The blues is a great example of how migration affects social and cultural change within the black community. Where does the blues originate from ?. The Blues Originated from the south of America, places such as St louis, Mississippi and many more. As America was moving into the twentieth century, the blues was evolving into a mixture of prior genre such as Ragtime, folk music and gospel, creating a new sound across America. Many people brought along music whilst migrating to bigger and more developed cities during the industrial era.
The musical structure of the blues only relies mainly on 3 chords, It's a more lyrical then a narrative genre, and uses an emotional vocal form to express a story line. By the 1920s the blues had change from classical blues to country blues, which was a mostly male populated genre. With country blues it was more of raw, strained instrumentation and included nasally vocal techniques. The instruments used where the banjo, strings (Guitar mostly) and a jug. Unlike jazz the blues didn’t spread as much from the south to the Midwest until the 1930s-1940s. Industrialization created the development of technological advancement within radio, records and many more. The increase of large black urban communities with money allowed the creation of race records within the music industry. This allowed the blues traditions to spread and connect with one another. By the 1940s the blues was gaining a lot of economic and social gains through popularity. Both rural and urban blacks embracing the national blues culture.
CHICAGO BLUES
After the second great Migration (Mississippi to Chicago) a new form blues was created called Chicago blues. Muddy waters (1915-1985) known as the father of modern Chicago blues, was the leading creator of chicago blues and in my opinion one of the top greatest guitarist of all time. Muddy Water and other artists such as big bill broonzy(1893-1958), Howlin wolf (1910-1975), and many more, open the doors to a new urban sound, consisting of electric based instruments, harmonica, drums, piano and much more. Chicago blues created a clean and ‘industrial sound’ of the blues which was completely different from the previous sounds of the blues. This specific genre was only made possible by the black migration. Over the rest of the 20th century the blues was a heavy impact on many genres and also evolved itself with the times.
JAZZ
In the early stages of the world war, a new genre started to popularise across America and the world. The Jazz era was an important stage in American history, as it was time in which there was a symbolic cultural shift. The first few years of the jazz age were vitale and impactful to society, as prior to that they had encountered the dark times during the World War. Jazz was able to bring along more hope and joyfulness into people lives, bringing new forms of art and a way of living. Hence why the 1920s is referred to as the roaring twenties. One of the first recognised styles within the genre is the Dixieland. The reason of its name is because of its origins, as it was created within New Orleans. New Orleans was one of the most diverse cities within the southern states of America, with a mixture of people from Mexico, Africa, Italy, France, Caribbean and many other countries. With the combination of different cultures joining together it helped jazz to become what it is today. It also blended from previous genres such as Ragtime, Gospel, Marches, Blues and many more.
Jazz began as genre created for dance and performances, later years it was also used for other ways of expression. The first recording of jazz music was in 1917, which created a large development and popularity across America. Artist such as Duke Ellington (1899-1974) and Fletcher Henderson (1897-1952),where the first few that began the creation of black orchestras, that performed in nightclubs in New York and Chicago. One of the most popular jazz clubs was Cotton Club. Cotton Club was a New York night club which was first based in Harlem. Most popular between the 1920s-1940s, this club was widely recognised as many famous, blues and jazz artist had performed there. For example Bessie Smith, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Chick Webb
Jazz is a large genre but the basic elements within it are syncopation, improvisation, techniques (instrumental techniques) and harmony. The clarinet, trombone, bass, trumpet and a drum set was the basic ingredients to create this genre.
New Orleans wasn't just the birthplace of jazz , but of many other genres and artists. Both black and white important figures within jazz, mainly came from New orleans or states in the South. Many artist such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker created a collective of different styles within jazz such as, swing,traditional jazz, bebop, cool jazz and many more. The increase in african american performers and predominantly white audiences created a lot of controversy and racial conflicts. For example, Marian Anderson was asked to perform at Howard University but, was denied based on the issue of her skin colour. This created such controversy that even Eleanor Roosevelt, ( the first lady at the time) resigned from the DAR. The outcome of that decision allowed Anderson to perform at the Lincoln memorial instead. Cotton club is another case in which they only allowed caucasian patrons. Even with these issues black artists still performed for African American audiences, if it was at church, or for dances they would always come back to the roots of the genre And today there are countless of jazz festivals and musicians across the globe. I believe that jazz is one of the first few early genres that has created such an impact within music globally. The Nielsen 2014 year end report
Says ‘’jazz is continuing to fall out of favor with American listeners and has tied with classical music as the least-consumed music in the U.S., after children’s music’’. Jazz and classical musical combined only represents 1.4% of the total US consumption a piece.
R&B
R&B has been around for decades, and has been a forever changing form of music, that evolves with the times. Originating from places such as New Orleans, New York and many other states. The genre R&B also known as rhythm and blues name was created by Jerry Wexler who was a music journalist during the 1950s-1980s. Even though the name R&B includes genres within it, it still has influence from, Soul, Funk, Gospel, Rock. Created at the end of world war 2, R&B is well known for its strong vocals and heavy back beats. It began to gain large amount of popularity during the 60s with the dedication of record labels such Motown, and talent from artists such as Aretha Franklin, James Brown and ray charles and more. Rhythm and blues was designed mostly for young black audiences, later on it would reach global popularity. The early stages of R&B tried to move away form the typical big band formular, and more into small bands, gaining a lot influence from genres like the blues. R&B was once known as race records but the name changed to make it less derogatory and more commercial. Venues such as Municipal, Royal Peacock club, 81 theatre, helped R&B artists to promote their work. In 1949 J.B Blayton was one of the first black owned radio station in America, their R&B format was extremely popular with Atlanta listeners, this also helped promote and gain more fans for the genre. In the 1950s R&B had competition with other genres which where jazz and Rock And Roll. As a genre it began to adapt itself into something that was more original and that had an identity. By the 1960s R&B had taken a more gospel approach. This new form Of R&B was promoted by artist such Ray charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Sam Cooke. This change created R&B into a popular genre creating number one on a daily.
The decrease in popularity was said to be short lived by the Billboard magazine. Since R&B has combined with Pop charts, it has been heard and used more frequently within many industries. R&B has also been used as name for most black genres such as Funk, Soul, Rap and Disco. Listening to the R&B at the end of the 20th Century is definitely a mix of emotions. This era gave a meaning of love and what it is to be in love. Their influence mainly came from previous jazz compositions and classicals blues. R&B use the technique of wide range of instrumentation, to find sounds that have never been heard before. The structures of songs were mainly jazz formation and included ad libs just like bepop jazz. The present day Rap was created on a basis that was made at the end of 20th century but now as R&B is more globalized it relates mostly to pop music than its original roots. Artist like Beyonce, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo, has changed R&B concentrating mostly on their lifestyle instead of the making and production of the music. If you compare the 1990s to the early 2000s you can see how the music evolves from slow soulful songs into more pop related. But 2000s where the times in which artist became more independent and less reliable for groups and backing vocals. But as the years go by and we see the differences appearing and developing into something that could be revolutionary we realise that it is just part of evolution and the makings of new genres.
CONCLUSION
I believe that people of colour have had a great struggle attempting to enter many industries. Dealing with issues of racial related attacks, controversy and unnecessary drama. People have truly forgotten, or have not given the true credit and respect to the originators of most genres, especially in America. Even through all the trauma they have experienced through slavery and just being in America. The mental, physical and emotional abuse losing their culture, identity and self worth in this world. To be able to to come back from that is a miracle. Having to rebuild and gain confidence of oneself is one thing, but being able to create such an impact through many pathways especially through the arts is another. Rising through hard times and to continue to strive is a beautiful thing, and that is why I respect many black artist for what they have done and created for the next generation.
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