"Message In Our Music" was released from The O`Jays in 1976. This message rings true from our past music, recordings of today, and music in our future. African American music covers a diverse range of musical styles and genres developed from African American culture.
When addressing African American music, our discussion will begin with slave songs and spirituals. Slave songs, also called work songs were hardship songs of physical labor. These songs also communicated with other slaves without slave owners knowing or realizing such communication was occurring. Religious music to come from slavery were spirituals. This sacred music provided slaves with an enduring spirit to persevere.
After the Civil War between northern and southern States, black musicians playing in military bands developed a style of music called ragtime. From ragtime, other forms and styles developed. Ragtime was the popular form of music from 1890 to 1917. Ragtime music influenced other styles of music such as early jazz, Harlem stride piano, and European composers such as Claude Debussy.
In the 1920s, jazz surpassed ragtime as popular music. Jazz was developed and grew out of brothels and speakeasies, and was highly segregated. Louis Armstrong was most noted of early jazz innovators. Other jazz styles to follow were swing and big band from the 1930s, with artist such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Bebop followed in the 1940s, with musical artist such as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
Hard bop, modal jazz, Latin and Brazilian jazz would come-out of the 1950s and 60s. Avant garde and fusion were introduced in the 1960s and 70s. Jazz from the 1980s to present day continues borrowing from other styles from classical, hip hop, and electronic music.
Black music is expansive, and covers an array of genres and styles. These genres and styles include, but are not limited to sacred music, folk music, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and hip hop. There is a lot there in the African American music canon.
