Pause your iPod for a second.

Think about the song you were just listening to. Or think of your favorite band or musical artist. Then think of who influenced them musically. See how far you can go back with their musical genealogy.

There's a good chance, if you go far enough back, you'll come across names like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Bessie Smith.

Regardless of where you start, whether it's rock, punk, country, rhythm & blues, or rap, somewhere along the journey back in time you'll find an artist that wouldn't have sounded the same without those African roots.

So this Black History Month, while it's important to honor and revere the political changes made by Thrugood Marshall, the social changes made by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the changes in sports made by Jackie Robinson, we can also appreciate the music of our society and the reasons it is the way it is.

Steve Lindeman, an associate professor in the school of music, said volumes of books could be filled with a discussion on how music from black culture has influenced American music.

"It's unfathomable the change in our culture without African American music," Lindeman said.

The changes and evolution of black music, and it's influence on today's music, all started centuries ago.

According to a performance Friday night by the BYU Jazz Ensemble called "Rhythm from the Roots: A Celebration of Black Music and Poetry," it was said the beginnings of black music started with Congo Square.

Congo Square is an open space located in New Orleans, La. In the late 17th century, slaves would gather on Sundays to sing and dance. The music performed there was the traditional music that the slaves brought over with them from Africa. The traditions at Congo Square continued for decades, and musical performances are still held there today.

In the 1910s and 20s, a new tradition associated with funeral services emerged. While dirges and songs of mourning would be played to honor the dead, lighter tunes would be played after the service in celebration of life. These upbeat songs lead to a style of what is now called Dixeland, a predecessor of jazz, big band and bebop music.

As jazz and big band music arose, it kept that light feel, but also focused a lot on improvisation. Most of the music parts were written, but some parts called for musicians to make up music as they went. This is similar to the bebop style, which used chord progressions from a well known song, but changing the melody.

These styles can be directly related to funk, reggae, rock and roll, punk, ska, folk, country, polka, and many others. But even though music today has African roots, it's not just black artists that have made a difference.

While February is a time to focus on the differences black people have made, music is something that spans cultures. Music is a universal language that can bring us all together regardless of the color of our skin.

"We're supposed to honor anybody who made a contribution to music," said Rachael Walker, from Thomaston, Ga. "I think black history is 365 days a year, it's not just one month."



Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Feb 2007