Timeline of African American Music

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The Timeline of African American Music explores the evolution of African American musical genres spanning the past 400 years.

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Featured performers

Learn more about the artists whose music served as the inspirational soundtrack that championed for justice, progress and equality.

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Featured genres

Learn more about the diverse musical expressions tied to rhythm and blues.

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Mississippi Goddam
Changes (feat. Talent)
Black and Blue
Strange Fruit
High Sheriff Blues
Straighten Up and Fly Right
(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave
Maybellene
Yakety Yak
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
1600—Present
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The Timeline of African American Music by Portia K. Maultsby, Ph.D. presents the remarkable diversity of African American music, revealing the unique characteristics of each genre and style, from the earliest folk traditions to present-day popular music.

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Jessye Norman

Carnegie Hall’s interactive Timeline of African American Music is dedicated to the loving memory of the late soprano and recitalist Jessye Norman.

© 2008 Richard Termine

Special thanks to Dr. Portia K. Maultsby and to the Advisory Scholars for their commitment and thought-provoking contributions to this resource.

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The Timeline of African American Music has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. The project is also supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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