Christina Hernandez

80402474
MUSL 3330
History of Commercial Music
The History of American Popular music is the history of the appropriation of African American
culture by the social, mostly white, mainstream.
It is certainly true that some genres from the African American culture have been
appropriated to fit the aspect of white mainstream music. In Jazz, all white ensembles like Paul
Whitemans Jazz Orchestra revised the style of their Jazz songs in order to sound more
acceptable (which meant that it had more constraint to its music, rather than produce the hard
swinging sound that other bands produced). In reality many Jazz musicians did not receive a
formal music education while white musicians were able to receive the education. Therefore, the
white view of jazz was taken to a more classical perspective: less swing, and more arranging
rather than improvising.
Many years later the Rhythm and Blues genre evolved from jazz and blues roots, in
which artists like Little Richard and Johnny Otis produced many hit songs. Rhythm and Blues
roots come from jazz and blues, and later was a major contribution to rock and roll. Although
many songs were hits, others unfortunately were not as successful. Elvis Presley produced a
cover of the blues song Treat Me Nice, and it proved to be tremendously successful. It moved
to the number one spot of the R&B charts. Little Richards Tutti Frutti was also produced as a
cover by Pat Boone (although Little Richards original version is much better in my opinion). As
these rearranged songs were extremely profitable, the companies that first produced the originals
(as well as the composers/authors) received no royalties from the studios that rearranged the
songs. Copyright law was not strictly enforced during this time, and the companies that first
produced the originals must have lost thousands of dollars. In these two cases (Jazz/Rhythm and
Blues), it is true that popular music is the appropriation of African American culture music.
Yet is it possible that other African genres could also have been influenced by other
cultures? Stephen Foster, the father of American music was extremely influential in the music
that he wrote. He is most famous for Oh! Susanna, and other songs like Old Black Joe. The
songs that Foster wrote were carefully planned out and composed. Its said that he took months
to complete one song; in his notebooks there is evidence that even the prepositions in his lyrics
were cautiously chosen. Similarly, Tin Pan Alley music was influenced by Stephen Foster in that
the songwriters adopted Stephen Fosters method of composing. Tin Pan Alley later was a major
influence to Broadway.
Similarly, there has also been other genres that didnt necessarily involve African
American Culture, such as folk music that comes from Colonial America. Folk music that
involves instruments like the violin was pioneered from people such as Neil Gow, a Scottish
fiddler. Gow created the technique of Appalachian fiddling, which is commonly heard in country
music and such as a shuffling of the bow. Music that came from these roots was prominent in
the future of country music.
Therefore, although it is seen that the African American culture was especially affluential
in much of the music we hear today (such as Rock and Roll, Soul, Rock, etc.) and indeed was the
subject of appropriation to white culture, it is not the only culture that has influenced the
American Popular music genre. Colonial American immigrants contributed, even those of
Scottish descent. Even then, if immigrants from other countries influenced the growth of music,
is that music still considered to have its roots in American Culture or from its foreign culture?
Thus, American music is a product from a wide variety of cultures. There is no doubt that
African American culture was the most influential, but that does not distinguish itself above
every influence from the melting pot of music that flourished in America throughout the years.
Christina Hernandez
80402474
MUSL 3330
History of Commercial Music
In American popular music, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Discuss this
statement in light of the various epochs of American popular music: minstrelsy (approx.
1840-1890), ragtime and the early recording era (approx. 1890-1919), early jazz (approx.
1920-1935), swing era (approx. 1935-1946), early R&B and rock (approx. 1950-1960), later
rock, the British invasion and psychedelic rock (approx. 1961-1970), mature rock and disco
(approx. 1970-1982), and the present day.
If there is one idea that is the most influential in music, and has been prominent
throughout the centuries, it is identity. People live through emotions and life events, and if there
is anything at all that they can relate their personal experiences to, its definitely music.
Minstrelsy is not the genre of entertainment that we pride ourselves the most in, but it is
subject matter that identified with the people of that time. It was a form of entertainment that
reinforced and created stereotypes of black people through comic skits, dancing, and music. The
white audience (which was probably the only audience that really viewed it) loved it. It was a
form of comedy. Thomas Dartmouth Rices song Jump Jim Crow was even used for the name
of the segregating laws known as the Jim Crow Laws. It is the birth place of stand-up comedy,
which is popular even today. It was expressive of the culture in that time.
Interestingly, just as minstrelsy has identified with the people of its time, so has many
other artists and genres of music. In soul music, for example, Aretha Franklin was a symbol for
the civil rights movement and womens empowerment. Many of her songs, like Respect are
a symbol for womens rights and deserving respect in their culture. Soul musicians in general
came to be seen not merely as entertainers but as essential contributors to-and articulators of-
African American life and experience...and was [also the view of] not only the black community
but also of national political leadership.
When the British Invasion was taking place, John Dylan was also a symbolic leader for
the civil rights movement. His poetic folk music inspired many, and he became immensely
popular with his fan base. His fan base was so dedicated to his music, that when he switched to
the more commercial genre of rock his fans showed their disapproval by booing him on stage
during one of his concerts. Many had identified with his folk music during that time, and when
he switched to rock the population may have believed that he had completely abandoned his
politically influential style of music. His lyrics still remained true, however, and he kept his
loyalty to his music in that he did not switch entirely to a commercially based music that only
spoke of young love and heartbreak. Interestingly, John Dylan had inspired John Lennon from
the Beatles to write more meaningful music.
When Psychedelic Rock came into the picture, the world was also in a state in which
music was needed to identify with. There was a lot of political unrest as the United States
involved itself in the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement was moving more toward the
persistence of eliminating racial segregation. It influenced much of the younger generation to a
rebellious attitude: the peasant look was adopted into the fashion scene, as long hair was also
popularized. The bands did not disappoint to show this rebellious attitude, such as Jefferson
Airplane, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. When Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix died, its believed
that the era of psychedelic rock died with it.
Disco, although it did not involve a lot of political events, also identified with the
populous. During this time, the middle class and working class of America was flourishing, and
many were successful. Disco provided an access to glamour that the working class hardly got
to experience with its upscale grand ballrooms and fancy lighting.
Therefore, in each of these situations (although they are each unique in their own way)
the people had an identity that was able to be identified through music. Thus music is an ever-
changing and evolving subject that still remains the true to the people that are involved with it.
We cant help but need something to inspire and identify with our emotions and personal
experiences.