Stevie Wonder: An American Musician

Prince, also known as Jamie Starr, Alexander Nevermind, The Purple One and Joey Coco, among others, is an American musician whose career has spanned over three decades from the 1970s. His ever-changing, androgynous style and the innovative and creative approach with which he takes on musical ventures have helped in him selling millions of albums worldwide and still allows him to have his stake in the rock, funk and R&B genres today.

If one was to go out into the street, walked up to a random stranger and asked them if they knew who Louis Armstrong was, chances are that they would be able to answer you correctly. Louis Armstrong (Aug 4th, 1901 - Jul 6th, 1971) was an American trumpeter, composer, singer and occasional actor who became one of the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned many decades, from the 1920s to his death in 1971, and many different eras in jazz. He first came to prominence in the 1920s as a trumpeter and cornet player with no technique as well as being very skilled in scat singing, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, influencing many later jazz artists as well as shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance.With his very well-known and recognizable gravelly voice, a technique that was later named “crooning”, Armstrong was an incredibly influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser by bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes on demand. Renowned for his charming and incredibly charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet and/or cornet playing, Armstrong 's influence extends far beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the early 1970s at his death, he was widely regarded as a deep and profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first very popular

A legend of the modern music was born on 21st of May, 1904 to humble and religious parents in an uptown state of New York. Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller, or simply known as Fats Waller, mom was a well-known instrumentalist who had influenced the boy from his early childhood. His fierce determination for jazz overruled his father’s desire for him to pursue a religious career and do classical music instead of jazz. During his lifetime he wrote multiple classics and showed the world that despite the bounds of society and one's race, one can achieve one’s lifelong dream. He has demonstrated through his lyrics from his songs, even though the world wasn't with him, he loved jazz and also became an idol for modern day jazz and became very relevant

The strum of the guitar, the bang of the drums, and the roar of the crowd. That is what country music legend Troyal Garth Brooks, or Garth Brooks, as most call him, has worked toward all his life. Garth has had some disappointments on his road to country music stardom, but he has worked through them and has prevailed. His prowess in country music certainly did not come from luck, but from faith and perseverance.

How would your life change or become harder if you became a country music superstar with fans all over the world? If Garth Brooks would of made another choice that would not have music he would not be as popular as he is today! Garth did not just think of himself he thought more about his fans, Garth generously loved to give back, because he was a kind hearted person. Garth Brooks struggled in becoming what he is now. Country music superstar Garth Brooks would not be as popular as he is if it was not for his music, His love for Giving Back to kids, and the un-easy road it took to get to where he is now.

Rising into the mainstream in the early 1960’s, Motown music gained popularity as it produced a wave of African-American musicians who successfully integrated their music, creating a newly unified musical culture between White and Black Americans. Simultaneously Motown provided musical backing for an extensive battle of cultural change in the USA; the American Civil Rights Movement. Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records produced music with the aim to sell to anyone despite their age or colour. The revolutionary processes and features of the ‘Motown Machine’ produced socially conscious, straightforward and all-rounded music and artists. This has been one prominent influence that Motown has provided to the production of contemporary music

While growing up I’ve always had George Strait songs ringing in my ears. Before becoming big, he played in small bars around where I lived. Knowing that he started off small doing what he could to reach his dream is something I have always have looked up to. He’s one artist that I admire because he has always stuck to his roots while never straying too far. He has a talent for singing the most pure words and soothing melodies. His songs always seem to have so much emotion in them that it’s so easy to relate to them when going through any type of situation. George Strait is one artist who you can never get too tired of listening to, and whose words that you hope will stay around for years.

With all this talent, it's no surprise that he was later on discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown band the miracles at the age of 11. With the help of his new record deal, Stevie was able to release his first debut album “Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius” just a year later. though Stevie had many challenges such as being blind and of course being an African American in the time period of mistreatment for people of color, he overcame the most important challenge of them all and that is how he was able to make an impact in not only the blind society and the African American society but also within The American culture which in many minorities cases have been quite a challenge. Of course four decades later now being in the year 2016, Stevie Wonder is still very much relevant as he was back in the 20th century. What he is most recognized for now is his work in the American culture and how he has become a leader deeply committed to

Scott Joplin, the “King of Ragtime” was a revolutionary musician of the 20th century. Scott Joplin’s determination allowed him to bring life to the Ragtime genre. He worked hard to bring the sound of Ragtime into younger generations. Did you know that Jazz came from Ragtime, so without Scott we wouldn’t have Jazz ("Kids Music Corner RSS"). Scott Joplin brought life to Ragtime, created the first black operas, and the first Ragtime musicals. Scott Joplin altered the music of the 20th century.

Michael Jackson, a man that changed the music world forever. Jackson made his professional singing debut in 1964 with his siblings in a band called the Jackson 5. Jackson made it big with Jackson 5 having many singles reach the top 100 in the United States. But, when Jackson decided to start his own solo career in 1971 we were seeing a side of Michael Jackson that we have never seen before. Most importantly Jackson 1982, mulit-platinum selling album Thriller. Michael Jackson broke music barriers and made a change for racial equality in the music industry.

Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder has been a major figure within the Black Music scene over the last forty years. Stevie Wonder was born Steveland Judkins on May13, 1950, however, he now prefers to be known as Steveland Morris after his mother's married name. He was blind at birth. The cause was the prematurity of the eye.

He was born blind on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, artist, lyricist and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder made his recording debut at age 12. He recorded his first hit single in 1963. Throughout the following decade, Wonder recorded a few hit tunes, including "Living in the City," "Boogie on a Reggae Woman" and "Isn't She Lovely." His rich period arrived at an end in 1979. Miracle's 1980s hits were "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and "Coal black and Ivory." He was enlisted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

One of the most representative artists in music history, talking about Louis Armstrong is to talk about jazz musician who played for presidents and kings and was the delight of millions of music lovers. His unique ability to bring people together with his wonderful music was needed at these times to help break the invisible boundaries. Many other artists also contributed during these times in other works such as poetry, I choose Louis Armstrong because I am a fan of his song, “What a wonderful world”. I do not believe you have to be an artist or poet to truly understand these great works of art. In Langston Hughes's "The Weary Blues," he describes a blues singer who sings a song about how he "Ain’t got nobody in all this world, Ain’t got

William Martin Joel was born in The Bronx, New York on May 9th 1949. Soon after he was born, he and his parents moved to Levittown on Long Island, which was America’s first suburb. He would also go on to base the song Allentown after his experiences there. His father was a pianist, but it was his mother who convinced him to practice piano at the young age of four. He was such a prodigy that he would alter classical pieces with his own spin, which would get him in trouble with his teacher when he wouldn’t remember how to play the original piece. By the time Joel was 16, he had been a part of three bands. (Billy Joel Biography.)

The history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20th century American music. American 20th century music is made up of a diverse number of styles that are reflected by cultural traditions and the era’s of the past. Immigrants from Spain, France, England, Germany and Ireland all contributed and brought their own unique styles to the forefront, hence creating American music. African Americans created influential musical traditions that include rhythm and improvisation that were later combined with European traditions and other indigenous music.