Pre-Rock to Rhythm and Blues Flashcards
Who made the North American Continent known to Europe?
Christopher Columbus
Who wanted to colonize the New World?
The French, Portuguese, and the English
Who was the first to bring slaves into the New World?
Portugal, from the late 1400s to 1500s. An many black slaves from the west coast of Africa.
What was the first cosmopolitan city in the New World?
New Orleans, Louisiana.
When was New Orleans founded?
1718
Why was its location important?
Because it sits near the Mississippi River, which was the gate into the American heartland.
What did the slaves who were brought to America have to do?
Learn the languages of the people who owned them well enough to communicate.
What happened in 1803?
The US bought the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon, who needed the money to finance his wars.
Where were slaves allowed to spend their Sundays after 1817?
On Congo Square, now Louis Armstrong Park, in New Orleans.
When did the US begin to compose its own music?
In the 1800s
What were minstrel shows?
Derogatory traveling shows meant to degrade the black man and make him look like a babbling idiot. Went on from about 1840 to the 1920s.
Thomas Dartmouth “Daddy Rice”
Popular minstrel show performer and famously known for “Jump Jim Crow,” (written in 1828) which is where the term Jim Crow Laws comes from. Was known for his Jim Crow act by the 1830s.
Stephen Foster
American songwriter who is most known for “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair.” He mainly wrote for minstrel shows in the 1820s/30s.
What amendments came from the civil war?
The 13th, 14th, and 15th
What was the 13th Amendment?
It abolished slavery
What was the 14th Amendment?
It guaranteed rights to all citizens born in the United States and ensures that the states give them their federal rights.
What was the 15th Amendment?
The right for all men, regardless of race, the vote. Women don’t get the vote until 1920.
What did the Southern states do to keep the Black men from voting?
By using Jim Crow Laws and literacy tests.
What was black face?
When white actors would paint themselves black in order to represent a black person. This was commonly used in Minstrel shows and made black people seem less like people. Is considered offensive today.
When was the Reconstruction era?
1865-1877. Was stopped because of a rigged presidential election. After Union troops left, inequality returned.
What are the Delta Blues?
A style of music that came about in the 1800s and came out of Mississippi. Commonly sung by a Black man with a guitar and was about what was going on at the time. This genre washed away the Minstrel shows.
What is the Blues Form?
A four bar phrase repeated three times. A A B. The Batman theme and the Spider-man theme use a Blues progression.
What was the impact of the Blues?
After a while it began to make its way to white people who were writing music.
Robert Johnson
Influential Blues artist (1911 - 1938). He is remembered because he was the one to make the recordings. His music influence hundreds of groups and the way people play.
What was Boogie Woogie?
An instrumental style of music that uses the Blues Progression. Typically is played by a piano. Came from Texas around 1920, but didn’t become popular with the white population until the 30s/40s.
Mead Lux Lewis
Boogie Woogie artist who played the piano.
Rhythm and Blues
The new term for music made by the Black community, replaced the term “Race Music.” Was coined by Jerry Retzer.
What was Rhythm and Blues?
A combination of the Blues progression and had the bump of Boogie Woogie.
Louis Jordan
American Singer and Songwriter. Was popular from the 30s through the 50s. Also popular with black and white audiences during the Swing era. Played saxophone and performed with his band called the Tymphany Five.
Cosmo Matassa
Owned and ran a recording studio called J&M Recording Studios.
Fast Domino
Influential R&B artist because be began to cross over to white audiences. Played piano
Little Richard
R&B artist who began to cross over into the rock style. Known for “Tutti Fruitti” Played piano.
Pat Boone
King of Covers. Made covers of popular R&B songs to tone them down for the more delicate audiences. Not dead yet. Tried to be hip in the 90s and do Metal.
What kinds of music are there?
Good and Bad
What was unique about Fast Domino’s music style?
He combined the styles of Country and Blues and was nonthreatening.
What influenced Little Richard’s music style?
Gospel, blues, and boogie woogie
What was Rock and Roll originally a slang term for?
Sex
Who were the 1st two cross-over artists?
Fast Domino and Little Richard
Who was famous for Texas swing?
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
Who were the famous artists who came from Chess Records?
Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry
Who founded Chess Records
Phil and Leonard Chess
Where were Chess Records located?
Chicago
Who made and played R&B and made it famous
Jerry Wexler (Rexler?)
Who coined the term Rock and Roll?
Allen Freed
