The name black music comes from........

Black music is not necessarily music that is made by black people. However, it is music that is influenced from the past and the culture of African Americans, or "blacks." It does not refer to one type of music. It refers to any type of music that is influence from the African American culture. The name is simply given to the music because the tradition and influence of the music is from "black people."

There is not one specific sound to "black music." Much of what is "the music" is enjoyed by many different people around the word today. Some of the earliest examples of the music are enjoyed at a very young age.

The children's songs that are call and response or the spirituals that are sang at churches and Vacation Bible Schools are definitely "black music." If the sheet music or many times even just the words can be found, printed on the bottom it will say, "Traditional Negro Spiritual" or "Traditional Negro Work Song."

Qualities that are common in "the music" are syncopation, improvisation, voice effects, and multi-part harmony. It is not difficult to hear the influence of "the music" in many types of music today. Throughout the years, many musicians have been popular. Each musician brings his or her own style. Each type of music influences other music.

In the 19th century, black music was characterized by the banjo. The banjo soon worked its way into all kinds of music and folk songs. Then black work songs were mixed with spirituals and religious people of all colors sang those type of songs as they were extremely easy to sing and had positive messages. People who were not of African origin did not know that many of the songs had coded messages against slave owners. Over the years, the words have changed so that the coded messages no longer exist. Sometimes the words have stayed the same and have lost the coded meaning turning songs into fun repetitive songs that don't truly have any meaning to the words.

By the early 20th century, blues and jazz were popular types of music. This was also the time of the Harlem Renaissance, so music and black arts were very popular. By the mid 20th century, it was common to hear cover versions of black music. It was recognized that the musical influence of African Americans was very important. Soul and R&B also became popular. Their musicians led the way and others followed with cover versions or imitations.

Funk and pop were musical trends that followed. Today, black musicians seem to be leading the way with hip hop, rap, and R&B. Of course, they are always influencing other music as well. Not every black that was a musician enjoys these types of music, either. The only way to define "the music" is "music influence from the African American culture." This makes the genre of music a very wide genre.

Examples of music can be found almost anywhere. It is not hard to find recordings of old spirituals and work songs. It is not hard to find recordings by black artists from throughout the years. It is not difficult to find recordings from other artists who simply acknowledge that somewhere in their music, they have been influenced by the African American culture at some point in history.

It is important to recognize that African Americans do have a huge influence on everybody's music. Just don't mistake "black music" for "music made only for blacks."