What was special about Robert Johnson?
Robert Johnson, (born c. 1911, Hazlehurst, Mississippi, U.S.—died August 16, 1938, near Greenwood, Mississippi), American blues composer, guitarist, and singer whose eerie falsetto singing voice and masterful rhythmic slide guitar influenced both his contemporaries and many later blues and rock musicians.
Where did the blues originate?
southern United States
What blues means?
1 : low spirits : melancholy suffering a case of the blues. 2 : a song often of lamentation characterized by usually 12-bar phrases, 3-line stanzas in which the words of the second line usually repeat those of the first, and continual occurrence of blue notes in melody and harmony.
Who made the blues popular?
Blues music is characterised by sad melodies and even today the expression ‘having the blues’ means you are feeling gloomy. Early blues music was very slow and emotional using simple harmonies with a vocalist accompanied by a guitar. Bessie Smith and Robert Johnson made the blues style very popular in the 1920s.
Who invented country music?
Jimmie Rodgers, known as the “Father of Country Music,” was an instant national success. He is credited with the first million-selling single, “Blue Yodel #1,” and his catalog of songs, all recorded between 1927 and 1933, established him as the first preeminent voice in country music.
What is the oldest country song?
Little Log Cabin in the Lane
Did a black person invent country music?
The relationship between blacks and country music, however, began centuries ago. In fact, blacks in the rural South helped create country music and remain avid fans today, according to Pamela Foster, author of a new book, “My Country: The African Diaspora’s Country Music Heritage.”
Did all music come from black culture?
“Every genre that is born from America has Black roots associated with it, from rock ‘n’ roll to blues to disco,” Madden said. “The fingerprints of Black creators are all over what makes American music so unique.”
Who was the first black musician?
In 1890 George W. Johnson became the first African American to record commercially. A common story is that Johnson, a former slave, was discovered singing on the streets of Washington, D.C., by Berliner recording agent Fred Gaisberg.
Why is music so important to black culture?
Music played a central role in the African American civil rights struggles of the 20th century, and objects linked directly to political activism bring to light the roles that music and musicians played in movements for equality and justice.