Thursday, January 17, 2008

Influences on later music:

Originally, Harlem’s music was recognized as Ragtime and Theatre. This quickly led into the Swing Era setting the stage for all vocalist of the 1930’s. As a result Bebop was created because artist were tired of people only dancing to there music and not listening to them.

Just like the artist wanted, the music shortly switched from only dancing to listening. This type of music also reflected on the resentment blacks felt on whites trying to copy their style of music.

Many of them developed a new sense of style while they were at it. They wore berets and grew goatees.

They also performed with there backs to there audience as Miles Davis often demonstrated.

The most infamous skill developed during this time was scatting. Scatting is the sing of syllables. Ella Fitzgerald was an expert in this category.

After the era of Swing, things started to cool down with the more subtle beats of Jazz.

In the Late 1940’s the music acquired a stronger beat from the Boogie Woogie. New instruments were added from the electric guitar, tenor saxophone, and strong emotions from the Gospel Music.

Then the Urban music of Rhythm and Blues developed and the recording tape was in the picture. From 1945 to 1960 this style of music thrived. Rhythm and Blues was looked at as “good ghetto music”. The black created music was still not accepted by the mainstream of America so it could on be heard at home, in the car on a jukebox or record.

In the 1950’s the sounds of Country of the south and Rhythm and Blues combined to create Rock n’ Roll. Although the sound was developed and performed mainly by black, the whites had the few big artists as well. Elvis Presley was later named as the King of Rock n’ Roll.

Songs such as “Soul Brother” and “Black is Beautiful” were all created during the 1960’s Soul Era. This music directly reflected Black Nationalism, pride, and the emergence of the black power movement. This was the beginning of Black owned music productions such as Motown, Atlantic and Stax. Soul music is the type of music that portrays feeling in a song very strongly. Artist such as Aretha Franklin and James Brown (King of Soul) depicted these emotions in there songs.

Next came Disco, product of the 1970’s. This musical rage both attracted black and white people in the communities. Emphasis took place on whether recorded sound was better or live performances. A winner was never officially declared.

Who doesn’t know bout rap? Everybody knows the popular songs on the radio, but who knows the true root? It all started with 3 men roaming the streets of New Jersey in 1979 and took hottest beats out and created “Rappers Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang. They helped popularize rap in black subculture and urban cities.

Rap music is an expression of what goes on in today’s urban youth. It includes rhymed street slang and usually up beat melodies with a farley heavy bass line. Today’s rap can also be heard on the radio BET and MTV as wel as other music channels provided.

Over the years, Rap music has changed. Artist such as Doug E. Fresh, KRS1, and A Tribe Called Quest influenced artist such as Tupac, The Notorious BIG, and Snoop Dog who influenced today’s popular artist such as Bow Wow and Soulja boy.

Rap is not the only thing that has developed over time. Rhythm and Blues has changed as well. Rhythm and Blues is now called R+B. Nowadays artist such as Trey Songz, Marques Houston, Omarion and J Holiday were all influenced by the 80’s and 90’s artist such as Micheal Jackson and New Edition.
All the artist and genres above will one day be the influence of our future generations music.

No comments: