How black music has influenced generations of musicians

In June 2021, United States President Joe Biden signed an executive proclamation in observance of Black Music Appreciation Month. In his proclamation, President Biden mentioned the importance of honoring the innovation that artists of African descent have brought to the world of music. Some of the most transcendent genres in the history of modern music were born in the U.S., and we have Black musicians to thank in this regard. From jazz to R&B and from hip-hop to salsa, here are some examples that illustrate the influence that Black music has had over many generations.

Jelly Roll Morton and the “Birth” of Jazz

Despite that famous piano duel scene in the 1998 film “The Legend of 1900,” Ferdinand Joseph LaMenthe did not invent the musical genre we know as jazz; however, we know that he was fond of saying so, and he was certainly the first accomplished composer in this regard. Jelly Roll Morton injected the spirit of New Orleans in all his piano pieces, and his performance swagger, which he developed as a teenager in the early 20th century, pretty much came to define the improvisational mastery of jazz musicians.

Motown Records and the Transformation of the Music Recording Industry

Even though Sam Phillips was the first successful recording label executive in the world of R&B, this genre exploded when Motown Records started operating its legendary Hitsville U.S.A. studio in the early 1960s. Motown recognized the importance of putting the Motown record producer and their imagination at the center of creating musical experiences. Prior to Motown, musicians were pretty much on their own when it came to production; once professional producers skilled in the art of creating beats and grooves entered the picture, the music recording industry changed forever.

Hip-Hop as a Culture

In the mid-1970s, young African-Americans in the Bronx were responsible for laying out the groundwork of what would become hip-hop culture. From the beginning, hip-hop has been more than just music; it is an amalgamation of cultural elements that include turntable mastery, rapping, break dancing, and graffiti.

The Afro-Caribbean Roots of Salsa

When the Cuban rhythms of son and mambo were adopted by African-American jazz musicians in New York City, it did not take long for a new genre to evolve into what we know today as salsa. The Latin jazz movement spearheaded by Dizzy Gillespie injected musicianship into salsa ensembles that eventually grew to the size of big bands.

In the end, it is very easy to see how Black musicians have shaped most of the music we hear today. Think about this the next time you turn on the radio or put together a new Spotify playlist.

How black music has influenced generations of musicians