History of the Popular Music: Jazz
Jazz is a popular style of music that planted its roots centuries ago. Its origins are a mix of African and European music styles. Eventually jazz was incorporated with popular music, and its mix created a modern jazz sound.
Jazz music has roots as early as the 1700s, when slaves created work songs to tell stories and help the time to pass more quickly. These songs expressed their religion and desire for freedom. In the 1800s, ragtime music became popular as a form of jazz. Ragtime combined the rhythm of the black community’s music with immigrants European music traditions.
The 1900s made significant contributions to the development of jazz. New Orleans became a headquarters for the merging of African-American and European musical characteristics, including blues. By the time the 1920s arrived, jazz and big band swing was becoming more popular with young adults.
Jazz music took a backseat until the 1960s, when African-American jazz musicians wanted to break away from record companies that were owned by whites. In the 1970s, jazz continued to evolve and transform into the modern jazz that is widely enjoyed today. Blues made a comeback in the 80s, and smooth jazz was introduced in the 1990s.
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