Early Origins of American Popular Music Before Jazz

Premise: All genres of American popular music are significantly influenced by West African music and African American culture due to the transatlantic slave trade.
Influence Scope: This influence extends beyond jazz, blues, and hip-hop to include country and rock and roll.

Origins of Enslaved Musicians: Many enslaved African Americans were brought from various West African tribes.
- Griots: Musical traditions were embedded in tribal society, including musicians known as griots, who were storytellers and historians.
- Cultural Impact: These traditions laid the groundwork for the development of American popular music.
**Creation of Slave Music:
- Work Songs and Field Haulers: Enslaved African Americans created music to cope and communicate during labor in plantations, forming part of what is referred to as "slave music."
- Music Structure: Typically followed the call and response format.

Expansion of the Railroad System: Facilitated the travel of musicians and performances across the country during the mid-1800s.
Minstrel Shows in the 1850s:
- White Characterization: White businessmen created variety shows to showcase African American music, often using white performers in blackface.
- Cultural Mockery: Blackface performances parodied African American culture, reflecting the racial dynamics of the time.
Cultural Significance: Minstrel shows became America’s favored form of entertainment prior to the Civil War.
- Recommended Viewing: Video on blackface and minstrel shows from CBS This Morning for further understanding.

Impact of the Industrial Revolution: Led to major technological advancements in the music world.
- Introduction of the Phonograph: Allowed music to be recorded and played back, transforming access to music.
- Mass Production of Instruments: Instruments such as pianos, guitars, and fiddles became widely available, breaking previous access barriers.
- Changing Social Dynamics: Prior to the late 1800s, music learning was limited to high society, but it opened up to lower and middle classes.

Creation of Tin Pan Alley:
- Location: Refers to a stretch of West 28th Street in New York City, where numerous music publishers flourished.
- Industry Formation: Music publishers transitioned from clothing and furniture retailers to dominant forces in the music industry, creating, printing, and promoting songs.
Entrepreneurial Growth: Initially involved in copying European classical music, their focus shifted due to the International Copyright Act of 1891.
ASCAP Formation in 1914:
- Purpose: To protect the intellectual property of song composers, ensuring fair compensation for their efforts.
Promotion Techniques: Tin Pan Alley music publishers sent out song pluggers to promote songs across the country, reaching various audiences in smaller towns.

Cultural Significance: A collection of American musical standards that became essential for jazz and musical theater.
Era Timeline: Tin Pan Alley’s prominence lasted until roughly 1940, when new mediums like radio, film, and musicals began to dominate.

Context Post-Civil War:
- Development in Suburban Areas: Middle-class African American communities blossomed in the Midwest, creating a newfound demand for music education.
Ragtime Characteristics:
- Technical Complexity: Known for requiring high levels of technical proficiency and featuring heavy syncopation and a bright, cheerful sound.
- Scott Joplin:
- Background: A significant figure in ragtime, he spent extensive time in Sedalia, Missouri, creating over 100 pieces of ragtime music.
- Pivotal Moment: His performance at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair elevated ragtime to national prominence.
- Connection to Tin Pan Alley: Although Joplin sought opportunities in Tin Pan Alley in 1907, he faced barriers as an African American composer.
End of Ragtime Era: Approximately 1917, largely marked by Joplin’s death, with classics like Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer remaining iconic.

Evolution of Phonographs:
- Initially Developed: Phonograph invented in 1877, bulky records were later improved by the introduction of flat cylindrical records in 1901.
Transition to Standardization: Prior to 1925, records varied in sizes, requiring adjustments in RPM (revolutions per minute) for play.
- Standardization: The 78 rpm standard set in 1925 simplified the process for record players, enhancing convenience and accessibility.
Impact on Tin Pan Alley: The advent of record players enabled Tin Pan Alley composers to supply music to recording artists across the nation, solidifying their relevance in the evolving music landscape.

Legacy of African American Influence: The early origins of popular music carry a legacy rooted deeply in African American culture, shaping genres that define American musical identity today.
Continuing Evolution: As technology and societal structures transformed, American music adapted, reflecting broader cultural shifts and innovations in the industry.