Kait Mae

This week, I’m talking about the music we wouldn’t have if it weren’t for African-American influences and creators.

We wouldn’t have jazz or blues. We wouldn’t have ragtime or rhythm music. We wouldn’t have funk or jazz-rock music. We wouldn’t have hip-hop or house music.

The early twentieth century (1900s-1930s) brought about blues and jazz music. The first Broadway musicals written by African-Americans were written and produced in this time as well.

Though there were lots of notable jazz musicians at the time, Louis Armstrong burst onto the scene and transformed jazz from ragtime to what it is now.

In 1936, Robert Johnson’s music made him one of rock’s most influential guitarists. And this happened 30 years after he died.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe started recording in 1938. She was known before this for traveling with an evangelical troupe. When she started recording, churchgoers were shocked, but it made her known as the “Grandmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and inspired Elvis Presley and Little Richard. In 2018, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an early influence.

“Strange Fruit” was the last song of the night and the only light in the room was on Billie Holiday’s face. Ahmet Ertegun called the song a “declaration of war” for the civil rights movement. It was named the song of the century in 1999.

Famous trumpeter Miles Davis’s album Birth of the Cool didn’t come out in full until 1957. He helped launch the “cool jazz” movement of the 1950s.

In 1956, Chuck Berry lead the newest generation of rock ‘n’ rollers.

Ska came about because of Fats Domino. He went to Montego Bay for the Jamaica Music Festival in early 1961 and was treated like royalty.

In 1961, Motown was the genre of choice for the younger generations. Top artists include The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and The Marvelettes.

Ray Charles added soul to country music in 1962. He did this by combining blue and R&B with gospel and country music.

Psychedelic rock was heavily influenced by John Coltrane. He was the saxophone player for the Byrds’ “Eight Miles High” was considered the first psychedelic rock song.

The Impressions were the soundtrack to the civil rights movement.

1967, Aretha Franklin. She made worship music a pop staple. She established herself as the Queen of Soul. (And I highly doubt anyone will ever come close to dethroning her.)

Jimi Hendrix. The electric guitar may have been cool before him, but he made it seem like it was an extension of him.

Afrobeat was created in 1971 by Fela Kuti. He inspired generations of international musicians.

Disco was brought to popularity by Gamble and Huff.

If you’ve never heard “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, stop reading and go listen to it and then come back. I’ll wait. This song is considered an ultimate empowerment anthem.

Frankie Knuckles created house music. It went mainstream when Madonna and Paula Abdul used it on some of their tracks.

Michael Jackson. Need I say more abiout the King of Pop. He broke the color barrier on Music Television.

Prince released Purple Rain in 1984. It inspired the movie Purple Rain which made him an even bigger star than he was with his music.

Covering Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” and putting her own twist on it, Whitney Houston reinvented the meaning of #1 on Billboard.

Tupac and B.I.G. made hip-hop mainstream in the 1990s.

Jay-Z created rap a business that it wasn’t even close to a decade earlier. His label made Kanye West a star and made Jay-Z the wealthiest man in hip-hop.

Beyonce. Like last week, need I say more?

Okay, I will. Her songs have always felt like empowerment anthems or feel-good music, but she sparked a new women’s movement.

I’m sorry I couldn’t get to everything, but there’s so much more that needs to be uncovered from before the 1900s. And there’s more to come as long as people still make music.