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And I'm NOT just talking about country, (although I do include that).
I find, that no matter what issues one has with the south, no matter what stereotypes one has about the south,
I think there is no question,
that the one thing that can be said about the South, is that it IS the most important region overall when it comes to the development of music. I don't see how anyone can argue that. And even though one doesn't particularly care for the south, it can almost be said, that American music of ALL styles, would not be what they are without the south.
Country is obvious. Nashville (mainstream) and Austin (alt-country). Bluegrass that came out of Appalachia. Then all the cross-over southern rock (skynyrd, Allman Bros, etc.) Anyone who likes that music is going to appreciate the south, so I'm not spending much time on that.
New Orleans is obvious: the birthplace of Jazz. It evolved into many other styles in many other cities, but it was born in New Orleans. Thats an obvious one. Cajun too.
Memphis: Another obvious: Blues and early Rock and Roll (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.) got there start. Chicago blues artists generally were from this area. Memphis was crucial to early rock and roll, and everything that stemmed from that. Also Austin with Stevie Ray
early Soul and R&B: ray Charles and Otis Redding both came from small town Georgia. Even most of the Motown artists (as well as Berry Gordy himself) in Detroit, were only one generation away from
Don't care for county, country-rock, or classic R&B? More into contemporary urban music like Hip hop and R&B? It may have first developed into New York, then developed on the coasts (east coast versus west coast) but urban style music certainly has matured into a prominent center in Atlanta, no question there (Usher, Outkast, 112)
Into more alternative music? Athens, GA. Th early 80s Athens, GA scene was crucial to the development of Alternative rock. B-52s obviously one of the most important new wave bands, REM was crucial to alternative.
Go to the Georgia Music Hall of fame in Macon, GA right off I-75, and there you can appreciate the wide range of styles that came out of just one southern state.
South Texas, crucial to the development of hispanic, Tejano pop music. (Selena who died young).
So:
1: Do you agree, that its hard to debate that whatever your style of music, our nations music would NOT be what it is today without the South.
2. Do you think there is some pattern, some connection or reason, why the South has been so important the development of music in America?
Personally theres so much that came out of the south, that this can NOT be random.
Yeah, it's the soputh by a mile when it comes to American music. It's pretty simple why the south is so influential in american popular music. Almost all forms of american popular music are based, one way or the other, on different varieties of african-american music, all of which originated in the south --jazz, blues, gospel. No type of music in the country today is untouched by these forms of black musical expression, and some wouldn't even exist without them. And of course up until the 20th centruy, when black folk started leaving for the north, midwest, and pacific coast, the overwhelming majority of black people lived in the south.
The South produced country and most of its derivatives, blues, and jazz in the form of artists/musicians. However, they were popularized by record producers from the North who mass marketed this music (such as Ralph Peer).
For the African American musicians, the only places that would record them was up North (Chess Records in Chicago for example).
New Orleans is a huge blues/jazz place still, but Chicago has a bigger scene and just as much history because that's where that music was recorded and distributed.
While Nashville is the home of country music, most country records are produced out of Los Angeles now.
As for rap, Atlanta is probably the 3rd or 4th largest player after NYC, CA, and Chicago (or before Chicago). But the centers of rap are NYC then LA.
The South produced country and most of its derivatives, blues, and jazz in the form of artists/musicians. However, they were popularized by record producers from the North who mass marketed this music (such as Ralph Peer).
For the African American musicians, the only places that would record them was up North (Chess Records in Chicago for example).
New Orleans is a huge blues/jazz place still, but Chicago has a bigger scene and just as much history because that's where that music was recorded and distributed.
While Nashville is the home of country music, most country records are produced out of Los Angeles now.
As for rap, Atlanta is probably the 3rd or 4th largest player after NYC, CA, and Chicago (or before Chicago). But the centers of rap are NYC then LA.
I doubt Chicago has bigger jazz scene than New Orleans and Mississippi is still the home of blues.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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I watch the HBO series Treme and it makes me think that the South has got to be the most lyrical part of the country.
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