Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th century American popular music. Its West African pedigree is evident in its use of blue notes, improvisation, syncopation, and the swung note. The word "jazz" (in early years also spelled "jass") began as a West Coast slang term and was first used to refer to music in Chicago in about 1915.
Hip Hop
Hip hop music is a musical genre that developed as part of hip hop culture, and is defined by four key stylistic elements: rapping Djing/Scratching Sampling (or synthesis), and beat boxing. Hip hop began in the South Bronks of New York City in the 1970s. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip hop, but hip hop also denotes the practices of an entire subculture.
Rapping, also referred to as MCing or emceeing, is a vocal style in which the artist speaks lyrically, in rhyme and verse, generally to an instrumental or synthesized beat. Beats, almost always in 4/4 time signature, can be created by sampling and/or sequencing portions of other songs by a producer. They also incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and live bands. Rappers may write, memorize, or improvise their lyrics and perform their works a cappella or to a beat.
Blues
The Blues has its roots in African-American folksongs, adding in some European melodies. It is usually played with guitar, banjo, and the harmonica using techniques from other genres, such as the gospel technique of call-and-response, and the trademark 12-bar rhythm. Blues lyrics lean toward soul-searching and bearing grievances, striking a chord in many listeners. An often popular, even stereotypical method is the way a blues song will say one line, repeat it again, then conclude with a different line. A good example is a song by Tracy Chapman called "Give Me One Reason". An influential person at the time was W.C. Handy, often called 'The Father of the Blues. His songs worked their way into many African-American clubs, and eventually into Caucasian circles. At this time, the slide guitar, a technique where guitar is played with a knife or bottleneck, became an influential part of Delta blues. After WWII, there was more of an emphasis on using electric guitars, which definitely had a major influence on the creation of Rock 'n Roll in the fifties. Several of the artists, such as Bo Diddley and and B. B.King, crossed over into rock.
Country Music
Strange as it may seem, country has roots in Scots-Irish heritage. Most believe that a mix of European folk songs, with African-American blues has created the basic 'formula' of country as we now know it.
Many attribute Jimmie Rodgers or the gospel-singing Carter Family as the original founders of this new style in the early 1950s. Country artists such as Merle Haggard, George Jones and Johnny Cash began to gain as much of a following as Rock 'n Roll, another musical genre rising at about the same time. Artists like Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis Presley became pop stars as well.
Classical
Classical music is a term used to refer to music which stems from learned traditions and which is taught through institutions. Classical music is broken up into six eras. The music of these eras share common aspects of style in a time period. Furthermore, it can be seen that classical music was influenced by changes in culture and society. The eras of classical music are: the Middle ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Twentieth Century.
The beginning of classical music in the middle ages, was closely linked to the church as a part of worship. It went on to become popular with the wealthy class of the time and continued to develop into what is now modern classical music, including instruments such as classical guitars.
Gospel Music
The term gospel is a reference to the 'good news' of salvation, but outside Christian circles, it is a reference to a musical style that takes its roots from African-American Christian celebrations. The style, with its fast beats and call-and-response was used for those who would share and testify at churches in the American South.
Many have claimed that Gospel's origins can be found in the Blues and Jazz, but it is not entirely clear to what extent one genre of music influenced the other in one form or another. Some associate the origins of gospel music with people like Tommy Dorsey, who wanted to get away from traditional religious music and start singing sacred songs with what was looked on as 'secular instruments'. At the time, Jazz music was often looked upon by some church-goers as "devil's music", due to its playing in illegal Prohibition bars. With some resistance from purists, Gospel music eventually got rolling, and there were several gospel singers and quartets by the forties and fifties.
Pop
The "pop" of Pop music is, more than likely, an abbreviation for popular music. Unlike much rock music, whose lyrics tend to be very anti-establishment, even outright nihilistic, pop music generally focuses on having fun. Themes are generally about dancing and partying and essentially living the good life, but occasionally, the subject matter can be more serious. Generally, pop songs are designed so that the tune will get stuck in the listener's head.
Like all musical genres, it is very hard to nail down a perfect example. Pop is even more difficult, since it has a lot of cross-over status. Virtually any artist of any genre can produce a "pop hit" by creating a big impression on the charts. For example, Michael Jackson has been called "The King of Pop", yet most will argue that his style was more R&B or Soul. The "Queen of Pop" Madonna would probably fall more under this category, as would the "Pop Princess" Britney Spears. The recent success of Justin Timberlake has made him the "Prince of Pop".
RnB
Like many music genres, the term of Rhythm and Blues is an umbrella term that covers a variety of music, referring to the rhythm of the backbeat that was influenced by rock and roll, while the chord changes were reminiscent of the blues. R&B’s origins can be rooted in jazz, blues, and gospel.
It used to be that rock and roll record companies would describe R&B as 'race music' simply because of the artists being African-American. R&B thrived in the 1950's, and much of it was played by artists of other genres, such as Jazz. Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, and Fats Domino could be considered the most famous R&B artists back then.
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Rock `n Roll
Rock and Roll is a generic term, and can refer to music such as R&B, soul, funk, punk, heavy metal, hip-hop, alternative, grunge, and more. The term itself was originally coined by a Cleveland DJ, and was used to describe a new sound of music that featured a strong back beat and electric guitars.
It would seem that Rock began around the fifties when Caucasian audiences began warming up to African-American music like Blues and Jazz. At the same time, the popularity of Country music, a then white-dominated art, was also on the rise. Rock 'n Roll combined the best of both genres, and was loved by audiences of any color.
Record companies then gave the people what they wanted, which led to the legendary success of such artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and the man-who-would-be-king of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. At first, it was seen as an overnight sensation that would come and go with the latest fad, but it has been a constant, yet ever-changing music staple in modern times.
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