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February, we celebrate Black History Month. Remember, embracing, and recognizing the amazingly creative and entrepreneurial excellence African-Americans have made in the United States. In this article, I will be discussing genres of music that derived their roots and influence from African-American Roots.
Gospel Music or Sacred Music was the earliest form of black musical expression in the United States. Gospel music was based on Christian psalm and hymns merging from African music styles and seculars. Gospel music originated in Black churches and has become a genre recognized globally.
Did You Know? Gospel Music is based on classical music theory. To learn how both genres relate check out: Learn Gospel Music Theory
Blues is a music genre and musical form which was originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s by African-Americans from roots in African musical traditions, African-American work songs, and spirituals. and characterized by “bent” or “blue” notes, not on the standard scale. The songs expressed a longing, loss, or desire which is why it was also called the “Blues”. Regional origins include the Mississippi Delta, Memphis, Chicago, and Southern Texas.
Beginner Guitarist? Learn Blues Guitar theory here.
Did You Know? The harmonic structure to a Blues Progression is using the I-IV-V chords of the blues scale. The Blue Scale Formula: Major: 1-2-♭3-3-5-6 Minor- 1-♭3-4-♭5-5-♭7
Jazz evolved from ragtime, an American style of syncopated instrumental music. Jazz first materialized in New Orleans and is often distinguished by African American musical innovation. Multiple forms of the genre exist today, from the dance-oriented music of the 1920s big-band era to the experimental flair of modern avant-garde jazz
Did You Know? There are over 10 kinds of music jazz scales. Learn your jazz scales here.
R&B is a diverse genre with roots in jazz, the blues, and gospel music. R&B helped spread African American culture and popularized racial integration on the airwaves and in white society during the 1960s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans. Today’s iteration of the genre has assimilated soul and funk characteristics.
Rocks’ first guitar heroine was none other than Sister Rosetta Tharpe, her single “Rock Me” in 1938 took storm. Sister Rosetta’s influence extended far beyond her own career. Johnny Cash called her his favorite singer, covering several songs on his 1979 gospel album A Believer Sings the Truth. Elvis Presley performed her version of “Up Above My Head” at his 1968 comeback special. The Staple Singers. Nina Simone. Paul Butterfield. Van Morrison. Led Zeppelin. The Grateful Dead, these are a handful of artists who’ve covered Tharpe’s classic blues song “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.”
African American Influence on Country Music Can’t Be Understated. Country music has roots in African American jazz and blues of the south. The blues emerged from African American folk musical forms, which arose in the southern United States and became internationally popular in the 20th century. Blues styles have been used and adapted extensively throughout country music’s recorded history. Jimmie Rodgers, sometimes called the father of country music, was known for combining the blues, gospel, jazz, cowboy, and folk styles in his songs.
Rewriting Country Music’s Racist History Artists like Yola and Rhiannon Giddens are blowing up what Giddens calls a “manufactured image of country music being white and being poor”
In 1980, “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang was the first Hip-Hop recorded released and charted #1 on Billboards the same year. Hip-Hop and Rap music are embedded with Jazz, Gospel, and Rock roots, becoming a global phenomenon and the development of mass media and pop culture attention.
To Learn More Visit A timeline of history-making Black music
Article by SoundGirl: Alyasia Muhammad-Turner
Another great article by SoundGirls: Mixing Shows: A Little Bit of Magic
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The mission of SoundGirls.org is to inspire and empower the next generation of women in audio. Our mission is to create a supportive community for women in audio and music production, providing the tools, knowledge, and support to further their careers. SoundGirls.Org was formed in 2013 by veteran live sound engineers Karrie Keyes and Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato and operates under the Fiscal Sponsorship of The California Women’s Music Festival, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. In 2012, Karrie and Michelle participated in the “Women of Professional Concert Sound” panel at the AES Conference in San Francisco. The panel was hosted by the Women’s Audio Mission (WAM) and moderated by WAM founder Terri Winston. Terri brought together five women working in live and broadcast audio. The groundbreaking panel (which also included Jeri Palumbo, Claudia Engelhart and Deanne Franklin), provided young women and men a glimpse into life on the road, tips and advice, and a Q & A with the panelists. More importantly though, was how incredibly powerful the experience was for the panelists. We had all been in the business for 20 years or more, yet most of us had never met before that day and within minutes we bonded like long-lost sisters. We were struck by how similar our experiences, work ethics, and passions were and wondered why our paths had never crossed and how our careers would have been different had we been there to support each other through the years. Each of us are strong on our own, but together we were even stronger and a powerful force. We were empowered. Each of us had been asked hundreds of times in our careers: Are there other women doing sound? How did you get into sound? How would a young woman go about getting into sound? Through creating SoundGirls.Org, we hope to establish a place for women working in professional audio to come for support and advice, to share our success and failures, our joys and frustrations, and for empowerment and inspiration.
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