All American Music

America is known as the melting pot traditionally for being home to a number of different cultures and peoples. Not only is the US home to many different peoples but it has also embraced and stamped its DNA on all genres of music. America the beautiful: known for the blues, jazz, country, and surprisingly even hip-hop and techno music. 

Blues and Jazz:

Blues music began with African American slaves' work songs. Traditionally, blues music has been coined with features such as call-and-response vocals and by songs with simple and sad subject matter, hence ‘singin' the blues.' Blues truly reflects upon its times with strong spiritual influences from The Great Awakening as well as being known as the music of the poor man. 

The term Jazz was coined in 1915 and though its exact definition can't be pinpointed, its origins can be traced to early America. Beginning in the Southern U.S. with the call-and-response music of the African American Slaves and a co influence of European music, Jazz moved forward during the early 20th century. Described as an egalitarian form of music, Jazz allows each instrumentalist equal creativity rights with impromptu solos and improvised music. 

Known best for its Jazz music is New Orleans where the bass picked up and the first full Jazz album, "Livery Stable Blues" was recorded. With the roaring 20s and into the 30s was Jazz's golden age. It became an influence on the popular foxtrot and swing. 

As Jazz and Blues music often intertwine there have been many notable artists who fit into both genres such as Lois Armstrong, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and perhaps most notably, Miles Davis.

Country:

Country music or Country Western music evolved in the Southern US and Canadian Maritimes during the 1920s. Known is its younger years as "Hillbilly Music," Country has declined in popularity in its most recent years; however, it provides a rich background to the US's variety of ethnic groups. 

Originating with immigrant cowboys, fiddles, the banjo and Spanish guitar Country is called ‘old-time music.' Country spread from the Appalachian Mountains to nationwide popularity with Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family with their recordings in 1927. Eventually Rock was infused with Country and ‘rockabilly' came into play. With this came Elvis Presley who is the top selling solo recording artist in the US. He is followed by fellow country westerner, Garth Brooks in second.

Techno:

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that was created during the mid to late 1908's in Detroit, MI. Many styles of techno now exist; however, Detroit Techno is the foundation. Initially, techno came to life through a blend of European Electronic Music, Disco and through African American influences of funk and electric jazz. 

Techno fans embraced technological innovation as did Techno's founding fathers, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Eddie Fowlkes and most well known, Juan Atkins. In 1988 Atkins said of the new genre, "Within the last 5 years or so, the Detroit underground has been experimenting with technology, stretching it rather than simply using it. As the price of sequencers and synthesizers has dropped, so the experimentation has become more intense. Basically, we're tired of hearing about being in love or falling out, tired of the R&B system, so a new progressive sound has emerged. We call it techno!"

Rap and Hip Hop:

In 1959 the Cross-Bronx Expressway was put in and put many middle and lower class members of the African-American and Latino community out of work. By the 1970's the poverty in the Bronx only became worse as much of this community was forced into more than 15,000 Co-Op apartment complexes on the northern side. 

With the close knit apartments came block parties. These neighborhood parties usually encompassed local residents with loud sound systems who would either play for the community or compete with each other. Through these parties came MCing, or rapping to beats and b-boying or break dancing. The Jamaican DJ most known to propel the genre, DJ Kool Herc used influence from Reggae's beats. He also "extended an instrumental beat (breaking or scratching) to let people dance longer and began MC'ing during the extended break dancing."

After the initial success in NYC came rap's commercial success. Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" became the first rap recorded by a group and put out onto a record. Following rap into it's ‘golden age' in the 1980's were artists such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run D-M-C and LL Cool J. From there came gansta rap rivalries between the west and east coasts, most noteably between Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. As hip hop evolved it took influence from the beats of Disco and Dub but generally kept its 4/4 time measure and has evolved into what we hear today.