Blues (1870)
Blues is an original American music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South, especially along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Memphis, and St. Louis, by African Americans from roots in African musical traditions, slave work songs, and spirituals. The blues genre is characterized by the call-and-response pattern, the blues scale, and specific chord progressions, of which twelve-bar blues is the most common. The lyrics of traditional blues verses often consist of a single line repeated four times. Early blues frequently took the form of a loose narrative. African-American singers voiced their personal troubles in a world of harsh reality. Often the subject was a lost love, the cruelty of police officers, oppression at the hands of white people, or just hard times in general. Blues singer Gertrude Ma Rainey was known as the “Mother of the Blues.” Other early blues performers were Bessie Smith, Lucille Hegamin, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, and Blind Willie McTell. The most recorded blues performer of all time was B.B. King.
Jazz (1882)
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans with its roots in blues. Jazz is often thought of as being formed on the musical traditions of West Africa (rhythm, feel, blues) and Europe (harmonic chords, variety of instruments). Early jazz also incorporated church hymns, slave songs, field chants, and Cuban-style rhythm. Over the next forty years, the following performers emerged as the great jazz performers of their time: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Ragtime (1896)
Ragtime originated in the South and is the fusion of military marches with Negro spirituals and traditional syncopated African tribal dance music. Ragtime became the first African-American music to have an impact on mainstream popular culture. It was the music of the bordellos of New Orleans and St. Louis and soon became dance band music of high society throughout America. Texas native, Scott Joplin achieved fame from his over 100 original ragtime pieces. His most noted ragtime numbers: “Swipesy Cakewalk,” “Maple Leaf Rag,” and “The Entertainer.”
Swing (1972)
Swing was ushered in by Duke Ellington's multiple radio performances which helped him gain national recognition and following and helped to bring in the era of “swing music.” Swing music was jazz music that you can dance to. Swing music established the Big Band as the primary deliverer of this genre and radio made it popular throughout America. Other noted swing music writers and performers: Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and many others. It would be the most popular music up until the end of WWII.
Bebop (1940)
Bebop emerged as a style of jazz that featured compositions characterized by a fast tempo, complex chord progressions with rapid chord changes, numerous changes of key, instrumental virtuosity, and improvisation. Leaders of the movement were Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coletrane, and Thelonious Monk.
Rock and Roll (1955)
Rock and Roll is the fusion of rhythm and blues, black gospel, and country music. Chuck Berry pioneered elements of rock and roll that included guitar solos, showmanship, and subjects of teen life and consumerism. His greatest hits include “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Elvis Presley became the first major rockstar of the United States and he ushered in the genre of Rock and Roll.