Is ‘black music’ a valid category of popular music Essay Example

this belief was used to 'justify' slavery. However, these spiritual songs/gospel proved them wrong and made an argument for giving blacks the right to live as free Americans. At this early stage in black music, it can be defined as music made by blacks and influenced by African roots. On the other hand, the Northerners had their own rendition of the South's slave entertainment which was referred to as minstrelsy. White people would put on blackface and imitate the singing and dancing of blacks. Some popular performers during that time included Georgie Hunter and famous songs like 'The Bonja Song' (c. 1820).

As the lives of the slaves evolved and they were granted freedom, their music also changed. The genre of blues emerged. However, despite no longer being enslaved as field workers, they continued to face various challenges. They were not accepted as equal and respected citizens of America, had difficulty finding employment and accommodation. This frustration was expressed through their music which featured lyrics reflecting their souls, accompanied by portable instruments such as guitars and harmonicas. The emotional performances often saw instruments used as extensions of their voices.

The early days of black music saw renowned blues artists like Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker creating and performing songs for their own community. However, with time, white musicians such as Eric Clapton also started embracing the blues style. The First World War ushered in a new era in black music when many ex-slaves migrated northwards and formed groups that became an integral part of American culture. Jazz music at the time reflected this growing acceptance and was heavily influenced by diverse backgrounds.

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origins of jazz can be traced back to the French military bands that brought brass instruments to New Orleans and other French settlements through the Creoles, while the rhythms were influenced by African music from black communities. As jazz grew in popularity, blues music was incorporated with different styles by various ethnic groups. Despite similarities in music and shared audiences, contact between different groups such as whites, blacks, and Creoles was limited. Therefore, defining black music as a standalone genre is challenging due to its diverse origins and performances. Check out http://www for more information on the history of black music.

According to hino.com/blackhistory/timeline.lasso, Jazz enabled white musicians to imitate Afro-American music for the first time, leading to future developments. However, a closer examination of history reveals that black heritage and culture were not the sole influencers of this genre.

During the time of jazz, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong were some of the best black performers. Louis Armstrong had a unique rasping singing style that was typical of jazz. There were also popular white jazz performers like Chet Baker, whose trumpet playing was an extension of his voice, and vice versa. Jazz became mainstream and some 'true' black music fans felt it had lost its soul. Despite this, the soulful element was combined with the hard bop element of jazz creating a new music called 'rhythm and blues', which had harder rhythms and sound. It would be regressive to return to creating and performing blues, but rhythm and blues became one of the biggest influences on modern rock and roll. Notable pioneers of 'R;B' include Otis Reading, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

Teenagers,

including white ones, loved the 'love' lyrics in the songs and enthusiastically bought the records. DJ Alan Freed realized the potential of 'black music' in mainstream white culture and therefore renamed it 'rock and roll' to better exploit its potential. This move contributed to the successful crossover of 'black music' into white culture. The rebellious theme found in R;B songs also flowed into the white rock and roll scene where listeners enjoyed the black music of legends like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino.

Sam Phillips famously said that he was missing something in music - a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel. He believed that he could make a billion dollars if he found such a person. Elvis Presley was the white man who fulfilled this gap for both producers and consumers. Although black pioneers were the founders of this music, after Elvis' rise and other white rock and roll stars like Bill Haley and the Comets, blacks found it challenging to be appreciated in this genre. Instead, they were directed towards pop, soul, and other similar genres. Lenny Kravitz also had a similar experience. His rock and roll influenced tapes were always given to the black division, even though his talent was noted. However, he was deemed incapable of making rock music. Hip/Hop and Rap are modern displays of typically black music, which bring the music back to its original roots using the voice as an instrument.

Despite no longer being under traditional slavery, black people in their own country still faced discrimination through segregation in city areas. The genre of Rap emerged as a resistance to this oppression, with 'Rappers

Delight' by the SugarHill Gang being the first major record of its kind. Black Rap and Hip/Hop artists like Run DMC, Snoop Dog, and Jay Z have since become popular, but Eminem, a white man, remains one of the most respected and celebrated Rap artists. He raps about his personal problems and experiences of discrimination, despite his racial difference to the majority of his contemporaries.

Reviewing the history of the classification of "black music," it becomes apparent that despite its African roots in work songs and gospel, the genre's evolution through blues, jazz, and even up to rap has been influenced by a variety of cultures. Even in the 1920s, it was difficult to discern the origins of some recordings as rural or urban, black or white (Hatch and Millward, 1987:121). Defining "black music" remains a complex issue considering the vast array of musical styles. Identifying a common theme such as rhythm may be explored, although the style varies across genres. Furthermore, highlighting the importance and dominance of rhythm is also present in other music styles and would require in-depth analysis.

The website known as 'the home of black music', found at www.darkerthanblue.com, features news, reviews, forums and interviews with black music stars such as Justin Timberlake and Eminem, as well as their black counterparts. This reinforces the idea that white artists are also creating 'black music', proving that the category cannot be determined solely by the creators or performers.

It is widely popular in 'white' Britain, Europe, and the United States to consume forms of black music like R&B, garage, and hip hop. The ethnicity of the audience is thus not a defining factor. It

can be inferred that 'black music' is not a valid category in today's popular music since no conclusion about its definition has been reached. The influences of several forms of 'black music' can be traced back to black culture, which originated in Africa through the work songs sang by slaves. However, due to the plethora of styles, artists, and audiences associated with black music, it is too limiting to classify them all under one common label.