Music, Slavery, and The Blues

Music and Slavery

The essential roots of rock music came from Africa, was brought to us by the slaves, which  in turn developed further by their ancestors as time went on.  It is important to note that the while the white’s had a   significant  impact on the development of rock music,  but the most important effect on rock music has been one of black influence.  The first of the important of influences is an emphasis on a steady beat, called a rocking beat, came from the drumming styles that are familiar all over Africa.  The second  important influence in rock music was the vocal styles that were taken from Africa.

THE BLUES

The blues style music came out of African influences, that came out during the first part of the 20th Century.  The music of the blues is produced with “blue” or “bent” notes which came from the flattened and third and seventh notes of the music scale giving a very emotional sound to the music.

 

Bessie Smith, Feb. 3rd 1936 By Carl Van Vechten.    Ray Charles with Nancy and Ronald Reagan, courtesy of the Reagan Library.