Black Music History

Music for the solo black artist.  Performers sang loud and proud with all their energy.

• Spirituals

• Motown

• Soul

• Jazz

Music that gave the enslaved hope and courage; and often spoke of freedom.  Sometimes the lyrics included secret messages.

• Gospel

• Spiritual

• Soul

• Ragtime

Music that follows a 12 bar form.  Lyrics followed a form too:  problem, repeat, and comment.  Lyrics are often sad. 

• Blues

• Jazz

• Soul

• Gospel

Music to praise God. Often accompanied by organ, piano, drums, bass or any combination of instruments. Singers usually swayed and clapped to keep the beat.

• Spirituals

• African

• Soul

• Gospel

Music played mostly by the piano.  The Left Hand usually played an “Oom-pah” or 1 2 1 2 style.

• Blues

• Ragtime

• Jazz

• Spritiuals

Music not in English. Has call and response and includes everyone. Often includes drums, shakerays, and other instruments.

• Sprituals

• Gospel

• Ragtime

• African

Music that features improvising melodies. Usually, it is performed with a drum set, piano, bass, trumpets, saxophones, and/or other instruments.

• Ragtime

• African

• Jazz

• Motown

Music that featured a group of singers.  Usually one was a lead singer.  They usually dressed alike and danced as they sang.  The accompaniment usually featured string instruments.

• Soul

• Blues

• Jazz

• Motown

Music made for the dancer.  It involves several people including b-girls/b-boys, a beatboxer, a graffiti artist, rapper, and most importantly a D.J.

• African

• Motown

• Hip Hop

• Soul

Music with a good beat where a person talks to the beat in a particular rhythm.

• Motown

• Spirituals

• Rap

• Soul