History of American Music Part 1

This genre derived from African-American roots in the late 1800s Deep South, it is a genre famous for repetitive rhythm, chants and melancholy narrative lyrics

• Swing

• Country

• Blues

• Folk

• Ragtime

Pioneered as popular dancing music in black communities in St. Louis and New Orleans, this genre is an early 1900s American music genre with a medium-paced beat and ‘ragged’ rhythm. It is sometimes called “jig-piano” or “piano-thumping”.

• Swing

• Country

• Blues

• Folk

• Ragtime

Influenced by ragtime, brass bands, and other sources, this genre originating in African-American communities such as New Orleans in 1920s America. With the sounds and varieties being so diverse, it is difficult to pinpoint with a strict definition.

• Swing

• Country

• Blues

• Folk

• Jazz

Originating in the 1920s South (Atlanta), this genre was once called “hillbilly music” and comes from a blend of folk, western, and blues that often uses simple harmonies and string instruments.

• Swing

• Country

• Blues

• Folk

• Jazz

Emerging as a distinct jazz subgenre, this genre often featured big bands and up-tempo ‘dance-ability’ that thrived for a time and eventually merged into pop music and other jazz subgenres. Therefore, many jazz and pop musicians are simultaneously this genre's musicians.

• Swing

• Country

• Blues

• Folk

• Jazz

Though the traditional genre is much older and spans across many cultures, the 20th century version of the genre is regarded as a revival and might be labeled as a distinct American genre. The genre claims to be of the people, telling the story of a people, and is also called “contemporary” or “revival”.

• Swing

• Country

• Blues

• Folk

• Jazz

Known as the King of Blues

• Woodie Guthrie

• Scott Joplin

• B.B. King

• Willie Nelson

• Hank Williams Sr

The most influential artist of the Ragtime genre

• Woodie Guthrie

• Scott Joplin

• B.B. King

• Willie Nelson

• Hank Williams Sr

Although his vocals are very unusual and not traditionally strong he has written some of the greatest country hits of all time. After a brief stay in Nashville he reinvented himself by going back to his roots in Austin Texas.

• Woodie Guthrie

• Scott Joplin

• B.B. King

• Willie Nelson

• Hank Williams Sr

Along with Pete Seeger, he is considered to be the foundation of the folk revival music genre.

• Woodie Guthrie

• Scott Joplin

• Hank Williams Sr.

• B.B. King

• Willie Nelson