Black History Month: The Impact of African-American Music

As we celebrate Black History Month, I often think about the impact of African-American music on American Culture. Socially and artistically, African-American music is one of the most interesting and pivotal phenomenons to ever occur in American culture.

Unfortunately, this music has its roots in the slave culture and system of the rural South United States. Blues and Black Gospel music comes to us from the plantation songs and "field hollers" of the slaves. As blacks moved north in the first half of the 20^th Century to urban centers like Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit, the music became more urbanized. Blues diverged into jazz, and combined with Gospel music to form soul.

It wasn't until the post-World War II era that mainstream America began to feel the full effect of this musical style. Innovators such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Louis Jordan, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Ike Turner and countless others, began to be played on white radio stations (previously they were "race records").

In the 1960's soul music and R&B carried the "crossover" of black music. James Brown laid down the law with his new heavy soul soon to be called 'Funk'. Berry Gordy's Motown machine in Detroit gave us innumerable hits, as did Stax and Philadelphia. By now the Civil Rights era was in full force, and Black America was making its presence known. Jimi Hendrix also arrived, bring a new blues guitar sound with him for this new era.

As we progressed into the 70s and 80s, new trends in this music arose: Funk, disco, rap, and new R&B. George Clinton, The Commodores, Prince, Michael Jackson, and a host of other artists help grow black music

So what is the impact of black music? More than we're aware of, I think. Most notably, black music told mainstream America that it was OK to express feelings and emotions. Going to see an Otis Redding show was for some people like going to an old-time revival meeting - it had THE feeling. It was a cultural shift, a paradigm shift as it were.

Now as we cross into a new millennium, black music is almost taken for granted these days isn't it? It is part of our culture, and peacefully coexists alongside (and intermingles with) other styles. And yet we still have race relations issues in this country. Perhaps we need to go back to the music a little bit. Let's go back and ask ourselves, in the words of Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On?".