Early American Music

Native Americans were the first inhabitants of America and brought with them the first music. Early European settlers also brought over new styles and instruments. African American slaves brought over their own unique music, and all of these musical influences were ingredients in the melting pot that is American music. Some of the first genres of American music were the blues, jazz, gospel, and folk music. Black musicians in the south gave birth to the earliest forms of uniquely American music, such as jazz, blues, and gospel. In addition to jazz,  country and bluegrass music was also a popular form of music in early American history and helped shape the history of music in America. Spirituals sang by African Americans as slaves were some of the earliest forms of purely American music. These spirituals spread across the country during the great spiritual awakening, and eventually evolved into jazz, blues, and ragtime music. In the Appalachian regions, hillbilly white people created jug bands, honky tonk and bluegrass styles of music, which helped shape the developing genres of country and rock and roll. Brass band marches were also very popular in America during its early history of music. American music has been influenced by people from cultures all over the world and, in this way, is like no other country's type of music.