Blue Man Group

problems. Especially during this time period, African American art was only viewed for the sole purpose of entertainment. As Hughes puts it in his essay, “The negro artist works against an undertow of sharp criticism and misunderstanding from his own group and unintentionally bribes from the whites,” in other words, an African American artist doesn’t have the same creative freedom as other artists (Hughes,…

Due to this revelation, blues music flowed out of bluesmen and blues-women as a way to vent the disappointments and disillusionment of African Americans. Blues music related to both spirituals and work songs in its musical form and rapidly became popular during the nineteen-teens and twenties. The music also chronicled many blues singers’ personal issues with racial problems/discrimination associated with being black in the prejudiced…

music industry. The blues that we know now used to be known as “race music.” (Rockin’ out textbook – page 30) This type of music was sung by mostly whites but in 1920, African American singers were introduced into the blues music. (Rockin’ out textbook – page 30) A lady named Mamie Smith was a woman that was well known for her singing during the blues music era. “Crazy Blues” sold 8,000 copies a week! (Rockin’ out textbook…

Generation refers to a group of writers who hit their creative peaks in the 1940s-1960s. The group did not share the same writing styles, but they were apart of the same social group, sharing the same interests, aims, and beliefs (Denise Enck). The “beatniks” were not actually apart of the Beat Generation, they sprung from a stereotype, coming from a derogatory image often associated with how the Beat Generation came off as (Denise Enck). Although two very different groups both heavily…

When thinking of Memphis, most people think Rock n Roll and the Blues, but our music history is much deeper than that. Memphis has a far rooted music history and we should take a look from the beginning. Music has been a huge part of this city since it started. Memphis’ has long been shaped by its music history so let’s take a stroll through Memphis and its music history. The city of Memphis was founded on May 22, 1819. It didn’t take long before the first Memphis brass band was created.…

other. In the case of Sonny and his brother, the narrator, in James Baldwin’s short story, “Sonny’s Blues”, their paths were parallel with one another until they grew up. Sonny left the slums of Harlem, aspiring to become a musician, while his brother settled in Harlem and became a teacher. Although the narrator and his brother ended up with completely different lives, the narrator being a family man with a teaching job and Sonny, an ex-convict playing jazz at a club, are ironically more similar…

his current self with his traumatic childhood. Much like the emphatic repetition of the “old blues song” that Pilate sings, in order to solve the mysteries of their family’s origin and carve a place for themselves in America, Milkman and his family uses music to heal themselves and eachother. Music and musical terminology are used to promote healing in the novel; but the recurring use of Pilate's “old blues song” creates a vein of psychotherapy that is more individualistic and specific to her…

pm, music began to play through the loud speakers. The song sounded like Texas Blues. Texas blues is a subgenre of blues. The guitar played heavily throughout the song, and the song had guitar solos and ‘licks’ or small riffs. This is very common in Texas blues. This reminded of Stevie Ray Vaughn, a well-known Texas blues musician. The song also had the 12 bar blues feel to it which made me notice that it was a blues song. The male singer had roughness in his voice as he discussed Texas life in…

years, including a very wide range of music, making it very difficult to define. Jazz makes good use of improvisation, and the swing note, as well as many aspects of harmony, American popular music, the brass band, and African musical elements such as blue notes and ragtime. Although the origins and basis of jazz originally came from within the black neighborhoods of the United States, different cultures have contributed their own experience to the jazz experience as well. Many respected people…

The Half-Blood blues, by Esi Edugyan, is an intriguing novel that intertwines two haunted histories, in to a great story about the black experience in Nazi Germany. The novel revolves around Hieronymus Falk, a very talented trumpet player in a jazz band. The jazz band goes through many obstacles, while trying to record their music. Due to the circumstances and the setting of the play, the band ends up being split as Heiro gets taken away by the Nazis. Due to the Setting of this play there are…