Essay on Black Artists in Country Music

Historically known as one of the pioneers of rock and roll, Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born during a time when music was orchestrated and more formal in structure and intended audiences were still segregated. In 1926, music was traditional; in the latter part of the decade, there was a jazz and blues breakthrough in addition to the introduction to the country genre as well. The 1920’s allowed

The article “Just a Half a Mile from the Mississippi Bridge”: The Mississippi River Valley Origins of Rock and Roll” was written by Dr. Michael Allen Ph.D. who is a history professor of the School of Arts and Sciences, at the University of Washington, Tacoma. The article is part of a work that Allen is currently working on titled, “Mississippi River Valley: The Course of American Civilization”, which discusses the significance and relevance of the Mississippi River area in American history. Because Allen is writing from the geographic distance of the Northwest, he may have a more objective viewpoint of historical events than someone who is living inside Southern culture. The article was written in 2015 for the Southern Quarterly, which is a

The roots of modern american rock and roll music, are firmly planted in Africa. As the native Africans were torn apart from their family’s and brought to the new world their lives were immediately and drastically changed forever. Finding themselves immersed in a completely new environment with a foreign culture, they thankfully persevered and carried on with their own traditions and most importantly to this paper, musical ones. Most American slaves originated from Western and Central Africa. The West Africans carried a musical tradition rich with long melody lines, complicated rhythms (poly rhythmics) and stringed instruments CITATION. The West Africans music was also strongly integrated into their everyday lives. Songs were preformed for religious ceremonies and dances and music was often a

Mississippi history is a sad history of slavery and oppression. It is a history of racism and refusal to let go of segregationist ideals. Mississippi history is enough to give many the blues. In fact, the Blues style music originated in Mississippi and gravitated outward from there. .Mississippi history and Blues history are intertwined. Delta Blues is a blues style that originated in the Mississippi Delta and influenced many musicians. Another musical art form, Jazz may be considered an offspring from the Blues and also started in the South. There are many Blues musicians and singers that come from Mississippi or have become linked to Mississippi for various reasons. Bessie Smith, Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, and Cassandra Wilson have

Everyone is fond of music! It is a magical creativity which is loved by entire world. Notably, Country Music is cherished by most parts of the globe, which is a form of beloved music that has taken birth in southern parts of United States in 1920s. It often comprises dance tunes and ballads which swing with string instruments like banjos, guitars, harmonicas and fiddles. It attained an enormous fame in 1940s. Country Fancast is the abode of such Country Music News, videos, and articles, which also enables to share the tunes of copious famous musicians.

Country music originated in the 1920s in Tennessee. The genre was influenced by folk music from the Appalachian Mountains and revolved around themes of love, faith,

Country music to be proud out: UK is enriching their music industry Music industry is improving and meeting more than the expectations of the people. There are more people who listen to wide variety of genre and this would make them free to choose what kind of music they will listen unto. UK is a place of bright light with creative and talented people living on it. There are so many people who create their own songs in order to earn and to be proud of their crafts. Our music leads us to something bigger in the future.

Rhythm and blues, also known today as “R & B”, has been one of the most influential genres of music within the African American Culture, and has evolved over many decades in style and sound. Emerging in the late 1940's rhythm and blues, sometimes called jump blues, became dominant black popular music during and after WWII. Rhythm and blues artists often sung about love, relationships, life troubles, and sometimes focused on segregation and race struggles. Rhythm and blues helped embody what was unique about black American culture and validate it as something distinctive and valuable.

American Gospel music is founded in the African American church. It has a deep culture in America. It is used as an outlet for people who have been oppressed, beaten down, and persecuted. Gospel music acts as a source of inspiration for those who had all but given up. It speaks of the various trials and struggles they’ve undergone, and how they were able to overcome. Is also used as a form of praise and worship, giving thanks to the Lord. The term “gospel” means “the good news.” Gospel music is used to tell the good news of the salvation people have received from the Lord, rescuing them from all of the trials and struggles of the world. Gospel music has been influenced by genres such as jazz and blues. It is a combination of many different forms of music, producing a new and unique type of sound.

The blues have deep roots embedded within American history—particularly that of African American history. The history of the blues originated on Southern plantations in the 19th century and was created by slaves, ex-slaves, and descendants of slaves. They were created by individuals who endured great hardship while performing endless hours of arduous labor and blues served as a form of escapism. To these individuals, songs provided them with the strength to persevere through their struggles. Blues songs depicted individuals who persevered in the face of adversity. They were symbols of hope to those squandering in the depths of oppression. In relations to the blues, every song has a story behind it and within every story, there is something to be said. Blues artists, through their struggles, detail how they overcame hardship and laughed at the face of oppression. They defied the rules and in doing so, showed African Americans that they too are beacons of hope for the hopeless. The best blues is instinctive, cathartic, and intensely emotional. From irrepressible bliss to deep sadness, no form of music communicates more genuine emotion than that of the blues. Like many bluesmen of his day, Robert Johnson applied his craft as a lonely traveling musician on street corners and in juke joints. He was a lonely man whose songs romanticized that existence. With Johnson’s unique vocal style, haunting lyrics, and creative guitar techniques, Johnson’s innovation embodied the essence of

This judgment began unexpectedly to spread as African American music, especially the blues and jazz, became a worldwide sensation. Black music provided the pulse of the Harlem Renaissance and of the Jazz Age more generally. The rise of the “race records” industry, beginning with OKeh’s recording of Mamie Smith’s

African American influence in music has been an ever present and controversial subject in American history. Stemming from many different cultures, religions and backgrounds, large portions of American music was introduced by, and credited to African Americans. Although in many cases, this music was used for entertainment by the masses or majority, contrary to popular belief, black music served a greater purpose than just recreation. Dating all the way back to the beginning of slavery in the U.S. during the 17th century, music has been used to make a statement and send a message. As African American music progressed over the years, there were common themes expressed as the genres evolved. It has been an open letter to the world, documenting and protesting the ongoing oppression faced by blacks in the United States, as well as an outlet for frustration. For many African Americans, the music gave them the only voice that couldn’t be silenced by their oppressors.

Eileen Southern’s The Music of Black Americans: A History she examines the influence that African Americans had in the holiness churches in music and worship. She initially starts with the landing of the first Africans to the colonies and she creates a phenomenal conversation of the musicians in the new world. She details the progression in the gospel, classical, jazz, rap, blues and the contributions they made.

Performances would exaggerate African American from the region give a poor image of the African Americans from the region (Olson). The African American’s were not the only ethic group effected with the broadcasts across the nation of Barn dance which gave more access to the music the poor representation of the rural culture led to the Identity Hillbilly. This was identity was primarily in the speech and clothing of those individuals in the Appalachian region (Olson). To keep this Identity the musicians were persuaded to keep to the stereotype and speak a certain way or where curtain clothing connected to the rural image (Olson). Appalachian people received slang terms out of this poor image such as “hicks” or Degenerates” (Olson).

I chose to do the topic of Americana music for my research paper for a number of reasons. For the last several years, I’ve found myself listening to more and more of this folksy, country-like, “old’ sounding music without really knowing what it was. Then, a year or so ago, one of my favorite artists of this style – a guy named Sturgill Simpson – won a grammy. The title of his album is “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music”, which perhaps should have been a slight giveaway to the Grammy people as far as what category to nominate his album in. It was not nominated for best country album, however. Instead, it was nominated for best Americana album. I have a good friend who is also a fan of Sturgill’s