Stolen Voices: The Appropriation of Blues Music and the Erasure of Black Artists
The blues genre is a powerful reflection of African American culture, rooted in the musical traditions brought over from West Africa. Evolving during slavery and the Reconstruction era, the blues emerged from spirituals, work songs, and field hollers that were vital forms of communication and expression for African Americans. The field holler, in particular, is widely recognized as a precursor to the blues, with its raw, emotional vocalization and personal storytelling. These songs provided an outlet for oppressed individuals to voice their struggles and navigate the brutal realities of their existence.
Blues music became a symbol of resilience, capturing the pain, joy, and complexity of Black life in America. Through its distinctive structure, often using the 12-bar format, the genre allowed musicians to channel their emotions in a deeply expressive way. Artists incorporated flattened notes or “blue” notes, adding a haunting quality to their sound that conveyed melancholy and defiance. The blues was not only music but also a means for Black artists to document and process the injustices they faced in society.
However, as the blues grew in popularity, it became a target for cultural appropriation, with white artists and the mainstream music industry exploiting the genre while denying Black musicians the recognition and compensation they deserved. One of the most notorious examples is the appropriation of Big Mama Thornton’s music. Thornton’s powerful 1952 rendition of “Hound Dog” epitomized the essence of blues storytelling, yet when Elvis Presley recorded a sanitized version in 1956, it became a massive hit, overshadowing Thornton’s original. Despite Elvis’s fame, the roots of his success lie in Black musicians like Thornton, whose contributions were often erased or diminished.
This pattern of appropriation extends beyond Elvis. Throughout the history of blues and rock ‘n’ roll, Black musicians have seen their innovations co-opted by white artists who received both commercial success and critical acclaim, while the original creators were left in the margins. The story of Big Mama Thornton is a stark reminder of the systemic inequities within the music industry, where Black artists have been repeatedly exploited for their cultural contributions.
