African-American music Facts for Kids

African-American music is a special kind of music created mostly by and for African-Americans. It has shaped much of the music we hear today. Some of the most important types of African-American music include jazz, blues, gospel, soul, rock and roll, and hip hop. Older styles like ragtime were also very popular.

The History of African-American Music
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The History of African-American Music

African-Americans began to have a big impact on American music in the 1800s. They performed in popular minstrel shows which helped share their musical styles.

The Jazz Age: 1920s Music

The time after World War I until 1929 was called the "Jazz Age." In 1920, the first vocal blues song, "Crazy Blues," was recorded by Mamie Smith. After this, blues sung by African-American women became very popular.

Bessie Smith was a famous blues singer. She influenced many jazz singers.
In 1921, Black Swan Records started in Harlem. It was the first record company owned by an African-American.
In 1928, Pinetop Smith recorded "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie." This song helped create the boogie-woogie music style.
By the late 1920s, Louis Armstrong, a trumpet player and singer, became one of the most famous jazz musicians worldwide.

Swing and Big Bands: 1930s Music

In the early 1930s, swing music became popular. The years 1935 to 1946 are known as the "swing era." During this time, swing was the most popular music in America. Large groups of musicians called "big bands" played swing music.

R&B and Bebop: 1940s Music

R&B music started in the 1940s. Before 1949, it was sometimes called "race music." In 1949, the name "Rhythm and Blues" officially replaced the old category on the Billboard music charts.

The trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie helped create bebop, a new style of jazz.
Jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday also became very popular in the 1940s.

Rock and Roll Takes Off: 1950s Music

In 1955, Little Richard released "Tutti Frutti." It sold over a million copies. He was one of the first black musicians to be loved by both white and black audiences. Many people say "Tutti Frutti" helped start rock and roll.

Singer and guitarist Chuck Berry also helped create rock and roll with songs like "Maybelline."
Big Mama Thornton first sang "Hound Dog" in 1952. It was a number one R&B hit for seven weeks.
Later, in 1956, Elvis Presley, a white singer, sang "Hound Dog" and sold 10 million copies. Presley was greatly influenced by African-American music. He helped make rockabilly, a type of rock and roll, very popular.
James Brown became famous in the late 1950s. He helped create funk music.
Gospel music had its "golden age" after World War II.
Soul music also began to appear in the 1950s. Etta James and Clyde McPhatter helped create soul. Soul music was like gospel but without religious themes.
Soul and R&B influenced the sound of many "girl groups" of the time.

Motown and Psychedelic Rock: 1960s Music

The 1960s saw new sounds emerge. Jimi Hendrix released psychedelic rock music. His music was very important and influenced many artists.

Stevie Wonder released his first album in 1962 when he was just 12 years old. At 13, he had his first number one song, "Fingertips."
Marvin Gaye helped shape the sound of Motown Records with songs like "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." He was known as the "Prince of Motown."
Ray Charles became popular with both black and white audiences. He was one of the first African-American musicians to have artistic control over his music at a major record company.
Motown Records released many successful songs in the 1960s. The Miracles, led by Smokey Robinson, were their first big act. Robinson later became a vice president at Motown.
The Supremes were Motown's most successful group.
In 1960, The Shirelles had the first number one song by a girl group, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow."

Hip Hop and Disco: 1970s Music

Hip hop music began in New York City in the 1970s. The year 1979 was very important for hip hop.

In 1979, The Sugarhill Gang released "Rapper's Delight." This song made hip hop popular across the United States and around the world.
That same year, Lady B released "To the Beat Y'All." She was the first female solo hip hop artist to record music.
Disco also became popular in the 1970s. Famous African-American disco artists included Donna Summer and The Jackson 5.
Diana Ross left The Supremes in 1970 and released her first solo album. In 1993, she was named the most successful female music artist in history by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Pop Icons and Golden Age Hip Hop: 1980s Music

In the 1980s, the success of Michael Jackson's album Thriller helped make African-American music even more popular. Released in 1982, Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. Jackson became one of the first African-American pop icons.

The funk musician Prince also became very popular. He had four number one songs in the United States.
Whitney Houston released her first album in 1985. It had three number one songs, making her the first woman and first African-American woman to achieve this from one album.
Michael Jackson's younger sister, Janet Jackson, also started a pop career. Her album Control had five top five songs and was very important for the decade.
Hip hop music developed more complex styles in the 1980s. The mid-1980s is called the "golden age of hip hop."
Artists from this time include Run–D.M.C., Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, and Public Enemy.
The group N.W.A started in 1986. Their music was banned from many radio stations.
In the late 1980s, jazz rap began to be developed.

Modern Stars: 1990s to Today

In the 1990s, more African-American female musicians became popular after the success of Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston.

The girl group TLC released their first album in 1992, selling six million copies.
Mariah Carey, who has an African-American father, released her first album in 1990. It reached number one in the United States. She has sold over 200 million albums, singles, and videos, making her one of the best-selling artists ever.
Mary J. Blige released her first album in 1992. It mixed hip hop and soul, earning her the name "Queen of Hip Hop Soul." Billboard ranked her as the most successful female R&B artist of the last 25 years.
The girl group Girl's Tyme, started by Beyoncé Knowles and LaTavia Roberson, changed their name to Destiny's Child in 1996. Their 1999 song "Say My Name" reached number one and won three Grammy Awards.
R&B singer R. Kelly released his first album in 1993. He has sold 40 million albums.
The R&B boy band Boyz II Men became popular in 1991. They were one of the most successful groups of the 1990s.
Hip hop duo Outkast released their successful album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003. It won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
Rapper Kanye West's first album, The College Dropout, was released in 2004. It sold over four million copies. All of his albums have reached number one.

Today, African-American musicians like Beyoncé are among the most popular artists in the world. Many white musicians also make music influenced by African-American styles, such as Amy Winehouse, Adele, Eminem, and Macklemore.

The National Museum of African American Music is located in Nashville.

Images for kids

The Banjo Lesson by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1893
Congo Square African Drum 1819 Latrobe
Slave dance to banjo, 1780s
William Sidney Mount painted scenes of black and white American musicians. This 1856 painting depicts an African-American banjo player.
The Slayton Jubilee Singers entertain employees of the Old Trusty Incubator Factory, Clay Center, about 1910
Marilyn Horne and Henry Lewis in 1961, photo by Carl Van Vechten
Sister Rosetta Tharpe performing at Cafe Zanzibar
Lil Wayne is one of the top selling black American musicians in modern history. In 2008, his album sold one million in its first week.
Beyoncé
Edward Ray at Capitol Records