With out African influences, American music would all be European and Spanish based with a small touch of Hawaiian and other near-by islands. “Yet another influence is technological development…For example, the technological growth that made it possible to build a pianoforte rather than a harpsichord drastically changed the development of keyboard music. The invention of truly new instruments such as the Saxophone allowed musicians to explore entirely new ideas and presentations.” (Reublin).

Music would not have its beat, and for specific types of music, such as jazz or blues the rhythm meaning would disappear! Blues (and then a take off, jazz) came from the pain and sorrow felt by the African Americans during the time of slavery and discrimination

Music was a very important to the slaves to keep them going and “music continues to play an important role in African societies. It is a medium for the transmission of knowledge and values and for celebrating communal and personal events. Music is often combined with speech, dance, and the visual arts to create multimedia performances. Even in societies with well-developed traditions of professional musicianship, the ability of all individuals to participate in a musical event by adding a voice to the chorus or by adding an appropriate clap pattern is assumed to be part of normal culture competence.”(African American music).

Other transporters of the African influenced music were Fred Stone, who introduced the word ragtime in 1883, Scott Joplin, who in 1899 presented his own style of ragtime, Daniel Louis Armstrong, who breaks out with his unique style of African influenced music around 1918. As the popularity of African influenced music in the African American community erupted, the up-beat rhythm and unique tune interested the younger white community. But in some cases “produced primarily for the black market, the songs have hit a responsive chord with white teenagers- but they are rushing to buy not the original versions but duplications by white acts…” (Tobler) that is how much of the back round of our African influenced music arrived and still arrives today. One very popular white that did “black” music and made more money then any African American could (at that time) make was Elvis Presley. As the artist formally known and The King Of Rock ‘n’Roll “Elvis’ musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. In 1954, he began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he was an international sensation.”(Aristotle). Elvis is a perfect ex

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