African American Folk Music

20 Informational Pieces about Folk Music:

  • Folk Music includes a banjo, djembe, and elements of patting the juba. 
  • Folk music stems from negro spirituals. 
  • Folk music was recorded orally and never written down
  • The earliest Black folk musicians were enslaved Black people and their descendants. 
  • Folk music was popular during the Civil Rights Movement 
  • The earliest folk songs were sung by enslaved people, which included callouts and chants. This is also known as a call and response.
  • Poly-rhythms → multiple rhythms 
  • Odetta is considered the “Queen of Folk Music.
  • Tom Dooley-The Kingston Trio
  • Puff the Magic Dragon-Peter, Paul, and Mary
  • Matty Groves-Fairpoint Convention
  • The Last Thing on My Mind-Tom Paxton
  • Mr. Bojangles-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  • Folk pours into other genres like hip-hop and R&B.
  • African American folk music arose as a result of the transatlantic slave trade.
  • Harriet Tubman, the feminist icon, used folk music to assist in her work as a conductor of the Underground Railroad.
  • Folk music was described as music that existed as a part of the everyday lives of African Americans.
  • African Americans would use folk music to express their feelings of sadness, joy, frustration, and longing for their true home.
  • Folk music originated in the 1600s
  • Artists have adopted elements of folk music. Tracy Chapman in an effort to promote social activism within the Black community.

Leave a Reply

What's your password?

Login to your account

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.