the music traditions on which they drew were frequently African American as well as Anglo-American. Lead Belly is perhaps the best known name of the African Americans that helped define the genre, but ...

Show more String bands, hoedowns, square dances, old-time fiddle and banjo styles, these sounds were a dominant strand in African American roots music from the 17th century onwards. Despite this ...

including African and African American, religious, brass band, and blues styles. The improvisational music that results has a syncopated rhythm, and originally both the performers and audiences ...