Transformation of Southern Music

Music in the South started before the Civil War with the slaves and traditional folk music. African Americans started the blues, gospel music, bluegrass, and jazz in the South. Other types of music that developed during this time were country, soul, rock and roll, and funk. Rock and roll and country music developed through folk music of the white southerners. Rock and roll began in the South in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Elvis Presley sold over 1 billion records and is considered the “King of Rock and Roll”. He was known for songs such as “Hound Dog”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, “All Shook Up”, “Jailhouse Rock”, and “Love Me Tender”. Johnny Cash is usually considered a country music artist, but can also be included in the Rock and Roll genre. His most popular songs include “Walk the Line”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Ring of Fire” and “Get Rhythm”. Southern rock is defined by Lynyrd Skynyrd and their song “Free Bird”, which is considered a rock and roll anthem. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006.
African Americans started the rhythm and blues. Motown Records was the first record label owned by an African American to feature other African Americans artists. Motown signed artists such as Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and The Jackson 5. Rap music is the newest and most popular genre of music and is a form of hip hop music that emerged in the late 1980’s and is often referred to as the “Dirty South”. The most popular southern rap artists include Lil Wayne, T.I., and Ludacris. Southern music has dramatically changed over time, and continues to transform with new artists bringing their own new style.