America dominates the world in many areas, but the one area of American domination that the world accepts the most is its music. American popular music forms; Blues, Jazz, Country, Rock, R&B, RAP, and Hip-Hop, are loved, and studied world wide.
When the British Invasion of the 1960's hit America, almost to a man each group or individual stated their love of American music as their primary influence. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Tom Jones, Dave Clark 5, and many other British groups and individual performers, all claim American music as their source of inspiration. But the music they loved had its roots in the one true cultural melting pot of America, its music.
Rock and Roll grew from the melding of Black Rhythm and Blues with Country and Western. This mixture was so volatile that several southern congressmen went on record stating that Rock and Roll was a plot to destroy American values by encouraging race micing. Originating in the Northern Urban centers in predominately black areas, Rock and Roll started out being labeled as rebellious, primative, black music. Some white artists like Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper introduced Rock and Roll to the "mainstream" youth in the early 1950's, and their influence along with others began the first true multi-racial and multi-cultural movement in America. It was legendary Elvis Presley bursting on the scene in the middle 1950's that signaled that Rock and Roll had began to become accepted as legitimate.
Rhythm and Blues (now called R and B) can trace its roots directly from Jazz, Ragtime, and the old black Gospel and Spritual standards. The narrative form and rich beat of these forms also form the basis for today's RAP and Hip-Hop. It is this music which form the basis of the rhythms of modern American Popular Music. From New Orleans Jazz, to the Motown Sound, to Urban Hip-Hop and Rap, black music forms the core of comtemporary music in America. There is hardly a Rocker anywhere who can't trace their music's roots to the sound of black America. The emphasis on rhythm and storytelling has always been part of what made this music popular. Black music in America is argueably the most original and traceable music form in America. It reflect the sum of the Black experience in a way that is truly unique and American.
Modern Country and Western music has its roots in the folk songs of the rural south and the cowboy music popularized by the singing cowboys of the 30's, 40's and 50's. It was also influenced by many songs born of the strife and conflict of the impoverished miners and farmers or the depresssion era. Moving from the rural areas and focusing on southern urban centers it found a home on the radio nationwide predominantly from Nashville on the Grand Ole Opray. Finding a broader audience in post-war years and Country Music began to move from "hillbilly music" to more sophisticated and polished form that exist today. Rock-a-Billy, Country, and Bluegrass,all came from the simple form of story telling by music.
The 1980's and 1990's saw a rebirth of the influence of the Latin rhythms in American Music. The Miami Sound and the Mexican influence swept into American Music. Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican artist in all forms added their music to the mix. Rap, Country, Rock, and R and B have all been touched by the Latin beat.
The media explosion of the 1950's and 1960's was fueled by Rock and Roll on Radio, Television, and the movies. The beat of Rock and Roll became the dominant force of American music, and the lines between the forms began to blend. Music forms are no longer segregated by race today as the forms have merged across the lines of culture in America. Today the effect of this mixing of music and culture can be seen everywhere in the culture. Jose Felicano sings the Doors "Light My Fire". Whitney Houston soulfully sings a song written by Dolly Parton, Lionel Richey writes Country songs for Kenny Rogers. Ray Charles has had some of his greatest hits from Country and Western standards like "Your Cheatin' Heart". The movie "Back to the Future" has its hero, Marty McFly's a young white man who loves Rock music, have his life changed and in turn changes history by introducing Chuck Berry to the style of Music that made him (Berry) famous. Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, is a white Rap artist who crosses all lines. The Miami Sound Machine moves everyone to a big Salsa Party. The Sound of Motown becomes the turning point in American music history.
Today America's Music does what it always has done, bring people together. In American Music every aspect of life, etnicity, and culture is merged, mixed, and highlighted. The rich diversity of American culture and life is reflected in its lively beat filled rhythms. American music is the story of the country, a reflection of a nation alive with change, filled with curiousity,and lead by hope and excitement. As it continues to grow and change, including more and more of all that America is, American Music continues to attract and entice the whole world, because it is truly the best of all that is America.
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