Without African Americans, there is no American music. Some of the most raw, energetic, complex, and groundbreaking music that has ever been played was played by African Americans from the US. Everything we listen to today, in some way or another, was influenced by their musical vision and innovation.

Here are 18 musical innovations that we can thank these amazing musicans for.

The Banjo:

The Banjo

Invented by enslaved Africans in Appalachia, the banjo may not be a hugely popular musical instrument today, but it has proven to be an essential component of many types of American roots music. Roots music is a broad term that refers to music that was developed in the US, and is said to have spawned most forms of American music, including country, folk, jazz, blues, and to a certain extent, rock music too.

Blues:

John Lee Hooker

Evolving from slave-era work songs and spirituals, the blues were invented in African American communities in the deep south. Blues is a very open style of music that can be played in many different ways. Over time, various styles emerged in different locations, and these regional variations would eventually form the basis of what would become Jazz, R&B, and Rock and Roll. Blues is the most important innovation in American music, and it has been massively influential to musicians all around the world, most notably, English musicians in the 1960's such as Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.

Jazz:

Thelonious Monk

Originating in the New Orleans area at the beginning of the 20th century, jazz is arguably the most profound American musical innovation, with just as much significance as European classical music. Jazz has of course evolved within itself many times over, with every evolution spawning even more musical innovations and innovators. While it's true that jazz was influenced in a way by European classical music, it has also remained very distinct. Jazz is the medium that spawned several other forms of African American music, and each era of jazz left a significant mark on the development of American popular music. Let's look at the various eras of jazz music and their effects.

Ragtime:

Scott Joplin

First heard at the very end of the 19th century, Ragtime music was a style of music innovated by freed slaves who worked in vaudeville. It was popularized by classically-trained pianist Scott Joplin. Ragtime music formed the basis for what would soon be called jazz.

Dixieland:

Louis Armstrong

Invented in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century, what later became known as "Dixieland" jazz was a musical style played in bars and brothels in the Storyville area of New Orleans. Using musical instruments from European classical music, and influenced by the Blues, Ragtime, and various Latin and Caribbean music traditions, Dixieland jazz was the beginning of it all. One of the most famous musicians to come from this tradition was one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century, Louis Armstrong.

Swing:

Count Basie

Swing music started gaining momentum in the 1920's with the musical innovations of people like Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Featuring large bands that played dance music, swing became the most popular American music from this time through the 40's. In addition, the swing era brought a more broad, and white audience to jazz, and many white musicians were beginning to play jazz music. People such as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw introduced swing music to this wider audience, and opened the doors for people like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Bebop:

Charlie Parker

Bebop is an innovation within jazz that initially was exclusively played by black musicians. Bebop is credited for taking jazz away from popular music, and into more creative and innovative territory. Bebop is generally played very fast, and was not intended for dancing. It has even been claimed that bebop music was played so fast and with such virtuosity that white musicians could not play it. Some of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived came from the bebop movement. Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gilespie, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and Max Roach were masters of their instruments and legendary musical innovators.

Modal Jazz:

Kind of Blue

Before Modal Jazz, most jazz improvization was based on chord progressions. Modal jazz was based on modes (or scales), and shifted the emphasis of the music from harmonies to melodies. The most famous piece to come from the modal jazz movement was Miles Davis' groundbreaking "Kind of Blue". Many of the musicians that worked with Davis on Kind of Blue and other sessions, including John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Bill Evans, Jimmy Cobb, and Paul Chambers were also influential on Modal Jazz. Herbie Hancock was another major player who released several albums in the 1960's that followed the Modal Jazz style.

Free Jazz:

John & Alice Coltrane

In the late 1950's musicians such as Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, and Cecil Taylor were playing a style of jazz that was rooted in bebop, but drew on on various forms of international music. In addition, this type of jazz relied less on the "rules" of tempo, timing, melody, and harmony. To some, the music was hard to listen to, and to others, it was a breath of fresh air. Free Jazz was very controversial, although an important piece in the evolution of Jazz. In the mid 1960's, John Coltrane also began playing free jazz and led younger musicians such as Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, and Sun Ra into the avant garde. Although not nearly as "free" as his later work, Coltrane's 1964 album A Love Supreme is one of the most profound musical achievements ever recorded.

Jazz Fusion:

Herbie Hancock's Headhunters

Mix the musical innovations of Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and Sly Stone with people like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, and you have the birth of fusion--an electric version of jazz that drew heavily from rock, soul and R&B music. Innovated by Miles Davis on "In a Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew", fusion became a powerful force in the Jazz world in the 1970's. Groups such as Weather Report, Tony Williams Lifetime, Return to Forever, and The Mahavishnu Orchestra took the jazz, r&b, and rock world by storm with this eclectic blend of all three. Herbie Hancock's classic fusion album "Headhunters" is one of the greatest works from the fusion era.

R&B:

Initially, R&B was more of a marketing term rather than a useful definition of a style of music. R&B was used to describe music (initially, at least) that was by African American musicians for an African American audience. The term came into existence during the Rock & Roll era, and it was a combination of jazz, blues, and gospel music--similar to rock & roll. In fact, some may claim that rock & roll and R&B music were the same thing, they just had different intended audiences.

Rock and Roll:

Bo Diddley

What became known as rock & roll music evolved from the blues, jazz, country, gospel and folk music. The earliest forms of Rock & Roll came from the late 1930's and early 1940's. People such as Big Joe Turner and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were probably the first to lay the groundwork for what would become rock & roll. The mid 1950's is when rock & roll really began to gain attention. People like Bo Diddley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry were some of the most important figures in the early development of Rock  & Roll, although the credit is usually given to Bill Haley and Elvis Presley.

Doo Wop:

Frankie Lymon

Rooted in African American vocal groups of the 30's and 40's, plus influenced by the blues and gospel, doo wop was one of the most popular forms of rock & roll/r&b in the 1950's and early 60's. The standout characteristic of doo wop music is vocal harmony. One of the most popular doo wop songs, and the one credited with the rise in popularity of doo wop was Frankie Lymon's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"? Other famous groups were the Monotones and the Diamonds. During it's heyday, this particular style of music was very popular amongst the youth of America. Towards the end of the doo wop era, many musicians of Italian descent started to produce their own version.

Soul Music:

James Brown and the Flames

Soul music began showing up in the 1950's as a combination of R&B, Doo Wop, and Gospel. This new style of music was yet another important innovation in American music. People such as Ray Charles, James Brown, and Otis Redding were some of the most famous performers to come from the soul movement. Soul, like many other styles of music had regional variants (Motown soul from Detroit, Memphis Soul, Chicago Soul), and has continued to evolve since its inception. The 1970's were a very important time for soul as it moved towards a more socially conscious message. Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield were some of the more visible figures in this movement, and the great James Brown laid it out beautifully with the classic "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud".

Jimi Hendrix's Guitar Style:

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix came from the blues, re-invented the guitar, and ended up being one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Ask any rock guitar player about Jimi Hendrix, and you'll hear nothing but love. Contemporary rock music, while not dominated by African American musicians, owes its entire basis to Jimi Hendrix's style. At the forefront of the psychedelic movement of the late 1960's, Jimi Hendrix was the catalyst for Funk, Jazz Fusion, contemporary rock, and even heavy metal. Nobody played guitar like Hendrix, and after Hendrix, the guitar was never the same.

Funk:

George Clinton and Funkadelic

With people like Sly Stone, James Brown, and George Clinton came the birth of funk. Influenced directly by Soul, Psychedelic rock and Jazz, Funk was a new style of music that was based on these other genres, yet much more danceable. Funk was well-known for its high-energy, and over the top performances. Funk went on to be influential to disco music, and spawned a world-wide funk craze where musicians of all kinds wanted to create their own unique version of this energetic and electric music.

Rap:

Afrika Bambaataa

In the late 1970's, after the Funk and Disco eras, a new cultural movement emerged from The Bronx in New York. This culture became known as the hip hop movement. DJing, MCing, beatboxing and breakdancing were all innovations that came from the hip hop movement. DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa are often credited as the pioneers of the hip hop movement, and the music that came from that movement, which many people refer to as rap. Artists such as Grandmaster Flash and the Sugar Hill Gang were also important figures in the development of hip hop music. Since the early days of hip-hop, rap music has gone on to become some of the most popular music among young people, both white and black, and has spawned countless variations in the United States and across the world.

1980's Pop:

Prince

In the 1980's, a new sort of pop music was spawned from 1970's soul and funk, plus a sprinkling of jazz, electronic, and rock to form music generally referred to as pop. Many of the performers who innovated this new kind of pop had also been a part of earlier soul and funk music. The biggest name to come from this era was Michael Jackson, although many others achieved massive commercial success during the 80's, including Prince, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston. 1980's pop gave birth to the greatest selling album of all time (Michael Jackson's Thriller).

Contemporary R&B:

Mariah Carey

Following the 1980's pop era, several new styles of R&B began to emerge. All-male groups such as Boyz 2 Men, Blackstreet, and Jodeci dominated the airwaves and MTV during the early 90's, and several all-female groups such as SWV, TLC, and also became popular around the same time. Several one-woman acts such as Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Lauryn Hill combined elements of soul and old-school R&B, along with more contemporary hip hop music into a new style of music that is still hugely popular to this day. Even over the past few years, some of the biggest musical acts in history perform this style of music: R. Kelly, Usher, Chris Brown, just to name a few.

Conclusion

As we can see, most of the musical innovations in popular American music are the products of African American musicians. In addition, their music has been profoundly influential on musicians all over the world.

Every time music hits your ears, take a moment to think about where it came from, feel it, and show some love.

-PEACE-

My current music obsession is jazz fusion. This genre got its start in the late 1960's; many cite Miles Davis' "In a Silent Way" as the first "fusion" album. So, what is it? In short, jazz mixed with a little rock and a little funk. Of course, there are variations. Some say fusion is "electric" jazz: In other words, electric pianos, electric guitars, and even in the case of Miles Davis, his horn amplified through a wah-wah pedal. All of these descriptions are true.

Unfortunately, jazz fusion is pretty much dead. The golden years of this genre happened between 1969ish-1975ish. Most of what poeple refer to as jazz fusion these days is what most people call "Elevator music". We're talking boring, soulless, Kenny G bullsh*t. This wasn't the fiery fusion of the early 70's, by any stretch.

Let's take a look at some of the classics for your listening enjoyment. Feel free to chime in with your favorites in the comments section!

Miles Davis

OK, let's start with the innovator: Miles Davis. Did Miles invent fusion? Probably. His musical vision is legendary, as he has been on the cutting edge of most innovations in jazz since bebop in the 1940's. Of course, he couldn't have done it without the efforts of his bandmates such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, and John McLaughlin...Pretty much all of these guys went on to become giants in the fusion scene in the 1970's.

Here's what you need to hear:

In A Slient Way: This album started it all. A fully electric approach to jazz. It isn't quite rock, and it isn't really funk, but it is jazz. I guess I would classify this as an ambient sort of sound. The sounds introduced here would go on to make a huge wave in the jazz world. The sound of Joe Zawinul's electric keyboards to John McLaughlin's electric guitar are a treat for the ears. This is a must-have album that I have on both CD and 180 gram LP.

Bitches Brew: After In A Silent Way, Miles Davis dropped this bomb on the jazz world. If you've read my top 10 essential jazz albums post, this is #10. Bitches Brew has more of a rock flair than In A Silent Way, and is definitely a bit more far-out, but you can't deny that this is a great album. It is electric, moody, loud, and trippy. I love it.

On The Corner: So, In A Silent Way was a rather mild album, then Bitches Brew blew it out of the water. On The Corner was the album that many people say is Miles' F*ck you to the jazz world. This album is in your face. Forget restraint, forget the ambience of In A Silent Way. On The Corner is a bold album from a bold artist. While many referred to this album as "anti-jazz", I refer to it as a breath of fresh air. It is loud, funky, and completely unapologetic. I love this album, especially the intense, yet mesmerizing beats laid out by Jack DeJohnette.

No one will deny Miles' unmatched musical vision. Also, of equal significance was his ability to put together the best bands ever assembled in jazz. Many of the members of Miles' fusion groups went on to massive success in their own fusion bands. Let's take a look at the work of these other greats.

Herbie Hancock

Next in line is one of the most successful jazz musicians ever: Herbie Hancock. Herbie got his start with Miles Davis in the early 1960's, and has not rested since. He has had amazing influence in many worlds, including jazz, folk, rock, and hip-hop. When he went off on his own in the 70's, Herbie Hancock ended up being the biggest fusion act in the world. Here's what you need to hear:

Headhunters: This is pretty much the most famous fusion album ever recorded, and is often reported as the biggest selling jazz album in history (although, Kind of Blue is the actual biggest seller). Headhunters is in your face funky. The intro bassline from Chameleon (the opening track) is classic. This album is funky, funky, funky, and just about everyone who hears it loves it. My favorite song on the album is "Sly" which is a nod to Sly Stone, and it just blows my mind every time I hear it--especially the 3rd part of the song. I also own this album on both CD and LP. It belongs in every music lover's collection, whether your love is rock, jazz, or r&b.

Thrust: The follow up to Headhunters, Thrust is another classic fusion album. While it is not as hard-hitting as Headhunters, this album is a must-hear for people who enjoy funky music. The most famous piece on the album is "Actual Proof", which is a classic, funky, "urban-ish" composition. In fact, I love it so much that it was played at my wedding! Of course, the standout piece on the album is "Butterfly" which is a mellow, beautiful composition that is somewhat in the same vein as the stuff on In A Silent Way, but more heavenly. Butterfly is one of my favorite songs ever.

Man-Child: Herbie Hancock did many fusion albums in the 1970's, and Man-Child is one of his funkier efforts. This album featured electric guitars, electric pianos, and plenty of bass grooves and beats. It is less jazzy in that the music is less improvised than music he did in the past, and the songs are definitely shorter. This is a great album that will introduce people in a more gentle way to the full-on jazz funk fusion done by Hancock in his earlier fusion albums.

Weather Report

Moving on. Let's talk about two musical visionaries from Miles Davis' band that went on to form the biggest band in jazz fusion history: Weather Report. The two musicians are Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter. Joe plays piano, Wayne plays sax. Another notable member of Weather Report is Jaco Pastorius, voted the best bass player who ever lived. Weather Report evolved heavily during their career. At first, they were more ambient, more improvisational, and more jam-oriented. As they continued, they brought in more rock and pop elements, shortened their songs, and improvised less. They achieved massive success with this formula. Here are the essentials:

Weather Report: This was Weather Report's debut album, and it won Down Beat Magazine's album of the year in 1971. This album is considered a classic early fusion album, with similar sounds to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and In A Silent Way.

Heavy Weather: This is Weather Report's most successful album, featuring the hit "Birdland". In addition to being Weather Report's best-selling album, it remains one of the best selling jazz fusion albums ever. This album is the first that prominently features bassist extraordinaire Jaco Pastorius. It is much more rock and pop oriented than their debut.

Weather Report is probably the most commercial and accessible jazz fusion group, and many of their albums are notable for an eclectic blend of several musical genres and overall musical complexity. Check them out!

Jaco Pastorius

Speaking of Weather Report...I wanted to talk about Jaco for a minute. Widely regarded as the greatest bass player who ever lived, coupled with a heavy case of mental and emotional instability, and utimately a premature and tragic death, Jaco Pastorius is always an interesting topic. While Jaco Pastorius was highly successful as a member of Weather Report, his debut album is what dropped the bomb on the jazz and music world.

This album will blow your mind, and it still blows my mind every time I hear it. If you play bass, drop what you're doing right now and buy this album. In addition to showing off Jaco's amazing skill with the bass, it also showcases his talent as a composer. Every track on this album is a standout; from the re-interpretation of the bebop standard "Donna Lee" to the r&b song "Come On Come Over", to the orchestral and grandiose "Kuru/Speak Like a Child", all the way to the beautiful "Portrait of Tracy", this album is a must-have.

Chick Corea and Return to Forever

Moving on, let's talk about more of Miles Davis' bandmates who were part of the fusion movement. Next up is Chick Corea. Chick Corea is a piano/keyboard player who has performed on many of Miles Davis's albums from the late 1960's and early 70's. In the early 1970's, he put together a group called Return to Forever. This group started off as a more latin-American mix with jazz, and later became a more rock-oriented group. Here are the essentials:

Light as a Feather: This is the second Return to Forever album, and has a strong Brazillian, Latin-American sound, with electric instrumentation. It also features vocals from the Brazillian jazz singer, Flora Purim. This is a great album that I listen to often. It features many long and exciting improvisations and solos, with Purim's vocals mixed in. The standout piece on the album is the classic song "Spain", which has been covered and recorded several times. This is an essential album for lovers of latin-tinged jazz.

No Mystery: This album is very different from Light as a Feather. For starters, it has no vocals, and features a very different band. The music has much less of a latin influence, and instead is more rock and funk oriented. It also features guitar virtuoso Al DiMeola. This album won a grammy in 1975 for best jazz performance by a group. Admittedly, I first heard this album only a month ago, but it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Return to Forever had a few years of great music, but soon enough the band members moved on to new things. Al DiMeola is one of the more famous members, especially amongst guitar players. Bassist Stanley Clarke has also made a long and varied career in music, with several notable albums under his belt.

John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra

Moving on...Let's talk about another pupil of Miles Davis: John McLaughlin. John McLaughlin was brought into Miles' band during the late 60's and early 70's for his skills on the electric guitar. McLaughlin can be heard on In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, among other Miles Davis albums from that era. His work during this time took a new direction when he founded the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1971. The Mahavishnu Orchestra was one of the heavier fusion acts, featuring an eclectic blend of guitar rock, Indian instrumentation, funk, as well as Western and Eastern classic music. Here are the essentials:

The Inner Mounting Flame: This was the debut album from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and is an eclectic blend of rock, funk, as well as Western classical music and traditional Indian music. What stands out on this album are the rock elements that are direct references to the playing of Jimi Hendrix. This album, while being considered a jazz fusion album is right at home next to the great rock guitar albums, and is a highly influential album for guitar players everywhere.

Birds of Fire: The follow-up album to The Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire is another rock-oriented auditory assault. The mood is heavy and the guitars are furious. This album will delight lovers of virtuoso guitar playing and heavy jazz.

The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a relatively short-lived group, but their influence is major and far-reaching. This is probably the heaviest jazz fusion act, and is right at home with both jazz and rock fans.

Tony Williams and Lifetime

Miles Davis seems to have dominated the entire concept of fusion. Another of his bandmates, Tony Williams, put together Lifetime, another major fusion group. While not achieving the same level of success as other fusion acts such as Weather Report and Return to Forever, Tony Williams Lifetime is considered a highly-influential fusion group, and has spanwned several tribute bands and tours. Here are the essentials:

Emergency!: This is one of the pioneering fusion albums, along with In A Silent Way. Tony Williams had been playing with Miles Davis for several years at this point, and was clearly heavily influenced by and influential to Miles' electric direction. Featuring Tony on drums, John McLaughlin on guitar, and Larry Young on organ, this album is a fusion classic.

Turn it Over: This album is the follow-up to Emergency! and features slightly more restrained improvisation and soloing, yet is still a fiery and intense experience. This album is definitely more rock-oriented than Emergency.

Tony Williams has proven himself again and again to not only be a top-notch drummer, but a talented musician and composer. I first started paying attention to him after reading Miles' autobiography, where Miles constantly emphasizes the amazing talent possessed by Tony Williams.

Did you read this far? I'm amazed! I can't believe I wrote this much. Anyway, Jazz fusion is great because it combines so many different musical elements, and draws inspiration from many sources. I find it exciting and unique, and I would love to discover this music further. Hopefully this primer has given you some new music to take in. Enjoy the music!