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LIFTING BLACK VOICES IN HONOR OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH
BLACK MUSIC
IS THE CULTURE
IS THE CULTURE
CELEBRATING BLACK MUSIC MONTH
In celebration of black music month, lifting voices was created to honor the boundless
contributions of African-American musicians across all music genres and their influence on
cultures around the world. June was formally recognized as National Black Music month by
President Jimmy Carter in 1979, and its name was officially renamed by Barack Obama to
African-American Music Appreciation month in 2016. The talent of the recognized musicians,
singers, composers, and songwriters have brought an invaluable impact and ingenuity to
American music and captured a diversified looking into the everyday lives, triumphs, and
struggles as Americans. The legacy and influence of Black musicians has touched many
across the nation, and worldwide.
LIFTING BLACK VOICES IN HONOR OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH
Mamie Smith Vol. 1 (1920-1921)
Sacred
The roots of Black American music dates back to spirituals, created mixing African cultural
heritage with the experiences of during the transatlantic and domestic slave trade from the
17th century to the 1860s. Spirituals were often based in Biblical stories, but also expressed
the hardships of Black American life at the time. Also known as “sing songs”, they were
originally passed down from generations through oral tradition. Following the Emancipation of
black slaves, lyrics from the songs were put into printed form. Until the 1920’s, American
culture opened up itself to recording Black musicians to the mainstream. Musician, Mamie
Smith, gained commercial success for her recordings which increased the audience and
exposure of the genre to the rest of the nation. Many new genres emerged from spirituals,
including blues and gospel.
Muddy Waters at Newport 1960, 1960
Blues
Blues later developed in the Deep South region of the U.S. around the 1890s, stemming from
the African-American spirituals of past generations. The genre incorporates spirituals, shouts,
chants, and narrative ballads in a call and response pattern. Early blues songs referred to the
racial discrimination and challenges experienced by African-Americans. Many subgenres of
blues formed, as the genre spread to a wider audience, like country blues, Delta blues, and
Chicago blues. Muddy Waters was a formidable musician of the urban Chicago blues scene
coinciding with the Great Migration. He incorporated electric instruments with the use of the
electric guitar, harmonica and drums. In the 1950s, blues emerged as an important influence on
mainstream American music.
Believe, 2001
Gospel
The roots of Black American music dates back to spirituals, created mixing African cultural
heritage with the experiences of during the transatlantic and domestic slave trade from the
17th century to the 1860s. Spirituals were often based in Biblical stories, but also expressed
the hardships of Black American life at the time. Also known as “sing songs”, they were
originally passed down from generations through oral tradition. Following the Emancipation of
black slaves, lyrics from the songs were put into printed form. Until the 1920’s, American
culture opened up itself to recording Black musicians to the mainstream. Musician, Mamie
Smith, gained commercial success for her recordings which increased the audience and
exposure of the genre to the rest of the nation. Many new genres emerged from spirituals,
including blues and gospel.
Blue Train, 1958
Jazz
Originating in New Orleans in the late 19th century, Jazz developed its roots in blues and
ragtime, into a style of syncopated instrumental music and improvisation. Since the jazz age in
the 1920s, the genre has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional
and popular music. As jazz spread nationally and internationally, numerous styles developed
including avant grade jazz, swing, and jazz fusion. John Coltrane, a musician at the forefront of
avant grade jazz, is one of the most influential saxophonists in music history.
After School Session, 1957
Rock and Roll
Rock and roll, formed in the 1950s and 60s, brings together the forms of African musical
tradition with European instrumentation. As mainstream musicians of the time were exposed to
many Black genres like jazz and blues, they began to incorporate these styles in a mixing pot
of African, American pop, and country music components.
Chuck Berry, one of the earliest Rock n Roll musician, was the first to use the electric guitar as
the centerpiece of his music. This transformed the genre into the most popular genre of
American youth of the time influencing their lifestyle, fashion, language, and attitudes. Little
Richard, considered one of the first crossover musicians, attracted both black and white
audiences together for his performances and concerts.
My Life, 1994
R&B
Rhythm and Blues, also known as R&B, is a genre originally popular in African American
communities in the 1940s. The name was at first used as a music industry term, to describe
the market of urban African Americans listening to music. In contemporary terms, the genre
itself combines sounds from pop, soul, funk, disco, and hip-hop music. This music genre
portrays the everyday life of African Americans through relationships, aspirations, pain, and joy.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, artists including Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and Usher became
widespread successes across the charts. Today, both R&B and Rap bounds are often blurred,
taking cues from one another.
Illmatic, 1994
Hip-Hop and Rap
Hip-hop originated in the 1970s among African American youth in the Bronx, consisting of its
rhythmic beats with rapping. Hip-hop developed into a larger subculture which including
MCing, DJing, breakdancing and beatboxing. It became a top selling genre in the late 1990s,
and remains one of the best selling genres in the 21st century. Current rap includes various
styles and subgenres influenced by regions all over the country. From partying, lifestyle, and
social issues within the Black community, a wide variety of topics are addressed in the genre
itself. Rap and hip-hop continues to influence other popular genres of music though fashion,
culture, and lifestyle.
OUR PLAYLIST
Listen to our
Black Music Month
Playlist featuring
Platoon Artists —
