Jazz Influence On African American Culture

The Jazz Age was a period of radical behavior and care free living. This new music structure started the crazy decade that would change American life. “In the US during the 1920s, jazz was far more than a new musical style or genre”. A Focus on culture, fashion, and mostly freedom became huge. “The Jazz Age became a touchstone for a wide range of social and cultural issues.”1 Also the freedom during the period allowed for many different ethnicities, including African Americans, to gain freedom within society. This new music

African American music is divided into many subgroups that led to another style, which allowed empowerment. Such styles as spiritual, blues, jazz, r&b, and hip hop created an incredible history.

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.

“Rock music is important to people, because it allows them to escape this crazy world. It allows them not to run away from the problems that are there, but to face up to them, but at the same time sort of DANCE ALL OVER THEM. That 's what rock and roll is about” (Pete Townshend). The concept of rock and roll music had eased into the music industry in a time after a crippling war and a great depression. The mid to late 20th century was home to innovation, rebellious teens, and a devastating war..The introduction of rock music has influenced our country and molded it in many ways as the genre progressed and has found a place in our culture.

African American religious music is the foundation of all contemporary forms of so called “black music.” African American religious music has been a fundamental part of the black experience in this country. This common staple of the African American experience can be traced back to the cruel system of slavery. It then evolved into what we refer to today as gospel music. The goal of this paper is to answer three main questions. What are the origins of African American religious music? How did this musical expression develop into a secular form of music? What is the future of African American religious music? These questions will be answered through factual research of African American traditions, artists, and various other sources.

The most popular new genre of music was Jazz. Jazz was created by African Americans by putting music and poetry together. Even though African Americans sit at the start of this new craze, overall, they tended to be treated the same as they were before they developed this form of music. Jazz affected both the fashion industry and literature in the 20’s. This was the first time in history that a minorities culture was preferred over the mainstream culture.

African Americans contributed highly in the music genre rock-and-roll, which is something people don’t really discuss. Rock and roll was highly influenced by the Blues, from rhythm and instruments. One African-American Blues singer, Muddy Waters was one Blues singer that influenced rock and roll, he changed the sound of his music which gave it a rock and roll sound as we know it today. Many believe Elvis was the first to sing Rock and Roll but Joe Turner’s song “Shake, rattle and Roll” (1951) sounds much like rock and roll and not Blues. This is ignored by many because of the racism in society, especially at that time. Many Black artists were not acknowledge even after they passed away and white male artists were

popular music, from rhythm ‘n blues to jazz, from soul to rock ‘n roll. The musical genre

The African-American culture has to be one of the most significant in history. Dominating music, along with the written literature being deeply rooted in the American culture and society. African American oral traditional has impacted the American music and/or literature culture, and will continue to spread in its influence to other global communities and cultures in the future. African American oral traditions of music and literature had a major impact on American culture when it was introduced during slavery in history. African-American slaves began singing songs while working on the plantation owner’s/master’s fields and other places on their properties

Although starkly different in dogma, Methodist and Baptist churches were able to evangelize many African Americans due to their common sharing of musical fervor. For example, in “the evangelical movements of popular reverends, John and Charles Wesley, [they] embraced ecstatic expressions; including, “speaking in tongues, fainting, [and] moving with the shakes.”(Walker, 1974). The African adoption of Christianity indelibly changed their views of the universe. However, pre-existing religious practices, particularly in West Africa, lend themselves to eighteenth century protestant denominations, in which both see music as connection to God or gods. Consequently, this legacy of cultural syncretism can be linked to twentieth century gospel music, wherein it has “certainly functioned as a catalyst for similar expressions of religious fervor.” (Wilson,

Throughout the history of this country, the music of African-Americans has remained a strong influence upon our society and culture. Beginning with the music carried over from Africa with the slaves, up until now, with the new styles created by urban youth today, African-Americans have retained certain elements within their music which makes it unique from any other musical form. Some of the musical forms which were created from, and/or were strongly influenced by afro-centric musical characteristics are: Hymnals, Gospel, Spirituals, Ragtime, the blues, and R&B. While many of these musical forms are still popular today amongst Blacks and Non-Blacks, jazz and hip-hop are arguably the two most widespread and

In today’s day and age, it’s easy to hear black culture represented in most hip-hop; that is the dominating music genre that expresses African American views. It’s not so easy to remember where African Americans influence on music al began. Black influence on music today is really unrecognized but it’s important to bring to light just how much African Americans really have contributed to the sound, style, and feel of today’s music. Not just hip-hop or rap, but all kinds of music.

Jazz, used by artists as a means of expressing their emotions and feelings, has had a lasting impact on the United States. Many look at Jazz as a simple art form, however, few know its roots as means of bringing blacks into mainstream American music. Also, few know that Jazz brought together multiple American music forms together into a global phenomenon. Marching bands, church music, religious hymns, and underground civil right music were all integrated into this genre and presented to the world as the true American music form. Jazz also become a symbol of resistance and way of expressing against racism. Jazz artists like Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong were only a few African Americans who broke

According to West “First, the rise of the United States as a world power focused international attention more pointedly on native U.S. cultural forms and styles.” As the Untied States grew in power, so did Afro-American music came to be with a social freedom and linguistic wealth instead of pecuniary wealth. Example, Jazz with its melody and vocalization

By its name, Black Music is to be used as a case in point. Because it is easy to identify, its contributions to popular culture are omnipresent. A good example of how this might be is in the performance of Black Creative Music (Jazz). Before we move further we must explain what we intend to examine when we use the term Black Creative Music.