The Beginning of 20th Century Black Music:
The music industry has been greatly influenced by African-American music and continues to be. In the early 20th Century, American theaters displayed musicals that were often written and produced by African-Americans and the first known recording done by an African-American musician was by Bert Williams and George Walker. Early 20th Century Black music mainly took place in Operas, orchestras and choruses. The first Black orchestra was established in 1906 in Philadelphia. The Black orchestra "Clef Club," atrracted both the Black and White community from 1912-1915. This type of music served as a gateway into the world of jazz.
Blues and jazz became popular in the African-American community around the early part of the 20th Century. Ragtime music was also a popular genre. Most of the time, African-American music was "simplified" for the White community, as it was seen as innappropriate and vulgar. Jazz, Blues and Ragtime influenced the genre of Swing into the White community. Black music was performed at Carnegie Hall, and included both orchestras and jazz. Pioneers of the jazz genre include: Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
Mid-20th Century Black Music:
By the middle of the 20th Century many songs by Black musicians were topping the music charts, both only when sang by White musicians. The original musicians were only successful among the Black community. In 1955, The Apollo Theater was opened and was a place for Black musicians to perform. Right around this time, another type of music became popular, the genre of bebop. Popular musicians of this time included Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
During the 1940s and 1950s, the African-American music developed a type of music known as Rock and Roll. This type of music was able to become streamlined through White musicians like Elvis Presley and was known commercially as "rockabilly" music, although it was greaty influenced by the Black musicians. Some Black musicians, such as Chuck Berry, were able to find success breaking into the White music industry.
In the late 1950s "doo-wop" became popular and "Soul" also developed. Ray Charles served as a pioneer for this type of music. Soul and R&B led into the development of girl groups, such as The Angels. In 1959, Berry Gordy established Motown Records, the first record label to represent mainly African-American musicians. This label developed a "Pop" sound and represented major African-American musicians of the 20th Century. Motown Record artists included: Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Supremes and Aretha Franklin. By the end of the 1960s, African-American musicians broke into the "metal" world and included the works of Jimi Hendrix.
The 1970s began with such as artists as Smokey Robinson and incorporated Soul with a new type of music, "Funk." Around this time, Black musicians were able to gain more mainstream success and some were even able to have a crossover audience. These musicians included: Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight. In the late 1970s, "Hip-Hop" developed.
"Hip-Hop" music had a more rebellious side to it and elements that hadn't been seen before, such as spinning records and different beats. DJs and MCs became popular and started a major movement in young Black America. In the 1980s, Hip Hop spread across the nation and became more diverse. A small number of solo Black artists also became successful crossover artists, inlcuding, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Luther Vandross. In the later part of the decade, rap had great success in the mainstream music industry.
The End of the 20th Century:
At the end of the 20th Century, the main genres of African-American music were Hip Hop, Rap and R&B. A rapper, 2Pac, had great success as an artist during this time. R&B artists included, TLC, Destiny's Child and Jagged Edge. By the end of the 20th Century, Black music had become completely mainstreamed and incorporated into the White community, while also influencing White artists and musicians.
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