His father, Abram Zimmerman was the manager of the Standard Oil Company while his mother, Beatrice Stone was a homemaker. Without even learning how to read music, Dylan taught himself piano at the age of ten. He also attempted to learn trumpet and saxophone before choosing acoustic guitar, as well as the harmonica. To this day, his combination of guitar and harmonica is iconic and synonymous with his name. He admired artists like Johnny Ray, Woodie Guthrie, and Hank Williams.
Later, in the 1960’s, his music really started to grow into the legacy we know today. The music of Robert Johnson has a big impact on the music we listen to in modern times. Many other blues artists, such as Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones, have recreated his work and found inspiration in
Many folk artists such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie heavily influenced the work of Mumford and Sons. An especially vital influencer to the band was Bob Dylan. Marcus Mumford has even said, “We wouldn’t be playing music at all if it wasn’t for Dylan”. The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is viewed as one of folk music’s finest works because it highlights the influence Dylan brings to the world of folk and popular music. From a young age, Dylan had an interest in music and was driven by several entertainment icons such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Motown Motown didn’t just make great music, they made an impact in the civil right movement. Though you can’t see the impact as much as you see the impact of Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X, they did play a role in the movement. Motown was started by Berry Gordy in 1959. He didn’t only care about making money through his music, he wanted to help out in the movement of civil rights. Motown was started in Detroit, Michigan and soon had 75% of the music released on the top 10 pop charts (Berry Gordy).
This was the same year she was discovered by Columbia Records, she signed a contract with them a recorded her first ever song with them. With the song “Downhearted Blues” she soon became one of the highest paid black artists of her day, it sold 800,000 copied. She made 160 recordings in all. Bessie Smiths subject matter was classic material of the blues, poverty, oppression, love, betrayal, and acceptance of defeat at the hands of the cruel and indifferent world. During her very successful career Bessie worked with many great jazz performers such as saxophonist Sidney Bechet, pianist James P. Johnson and pianist Fletcher Henderson.
From its simple and primitive origins, not only has the Blues affected culture throughout the Deep South, but Southern culture has had a strong influence on the creation of the Blues and its musicians. The Blues’ unique sound came from the slave songs, such as the work songs and field hollers of the enslaved African Americans (PBS). Nearly every song on the radio today has its roots in the Delta Blues. Although the Blues is definitely from the Mississippi Delta, the date and exact location of the place of origin will forever remain unknown. However, Dockery Farms claims to be the place where the Blues began.
Salsa music does integrate Cuban influences; however, it was founded in New York by the Puerto Rican community (“Costa Rican Music,” n.d.). Mexico, being one of the hot-spots for Latin American music, has its own influence on Costa Rican music. Genres like Ranchera, Corrido, and Norteno can be heard throughout Costa Rica. One of the most famous Ranchera singers, while not accepted for being homosexual, came from Costa Rica. Chavela Vargas broke many gender stereotypes as she sang a style of music predominantly performed by males in pants and a poncho (Linden,
With his music, Dylan would change the generation he was in and more that followed. Bob Dylan joined other prominent singers, at times, to bring an extra voice to the Civil Rights movement and many other social issues. He was one of the first musicians to use his music to become an activist on moral issues. Dylan had a gift of
These following songs affected the bluesman’s vocal and the guitar style in the later centuries. Furthermore, the song "Come On In My Kitchen” in my kitchen was another popular and dominant blues music during the 1920 to 1930s. This song wasn’t like the ones which influence the tone and style of the song, but it totally revealed the impact which was caused by Skip James “Devil Got My Woman”. The lyrics of the song was written as poetry and Robert Johnson sang it with a strained voice to make the tone and the output of the song more nervous. What’s more, another song,”From Four Until Late”, showed that Johnson’s ability in blues style did not only associate with the Delta.
When considering New Orleans the birthplace of jazz, one must keep in mind that slaves were brought first to Virginia in 1619 and that the first instrumental jazz was recorded in New York City in 1917. New Orleans provided a receptive environment for jazz to develop and grow. All “Early New Orleans” bands did not sound the same. The style of playing varied with the job, whether it was music for a parade, funeral, or dancing. Melody was fixed but everything else was improvised during performance.