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I didn't know much about music even though I learned to play piano and trumpet at a fairly early age. Further, I came from a musical family. However, music is a dynamic commentary on society, as well as a comforting salve that soothes our hearts.
My mother, when a teen-ager in the Forties, worked in a record store and told me stories about how occasionally a young black person would come into the music store and ask for a particular record by a Black artist. These records were not put "out front" partly because there wasn't much call, and partly , no doubt, for prejudicial reasons. To obtain the record they were taken to the "back room" where they were allowed to "shop".

While the story was interesting to me, I was really too young to understand the complete social impact. However, years later, here came: "THE BEATLES!"
Soon I was a keyboard player in a garage band which we purposed would rival and yes, surpass the Beatles. I, not being a "looker", immediatly adopted John Lennon as my idol. As I read about him and the musical influences on him, I became aware of the influence African-American music had on his life. At the same time the Temptations became popular as well as James Brown, The Righteous Brothers, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin. Later, the White group The Mauds, added to the arsenal of Soul groups that awakened musical stirrings in me that were wonderful.
I gave myself to the study of musical history. B.B.King, Muddy Waters, and Dinah Washington were just some of the names I learned to love. But, more importantly, I was able to see the impact of African-American groups on White performers.
The Beatles popularized "Chains"; "Please Mr. Postman"; "Twist and Shout"; "Money" and "Roll Over Beethoven" (Chuck Berry); all of which were first recorded by Black groups. Elvis had done a bit of the same thing.
As I studied I learned that the strains of slaves, meshed with the music of the rural white poor and Southern Bayou rhythms, to create much of the music we had received and, the British, who had so openly accepted Black music, brought it all into perspective.
Jimi Hendrix would have never received the notoriety he did if he hadn't left this country.
The African-American impact on American music cannot be measured. Even today, they bring forth cutting edge forms. While I am not a big fan of hip-hop, mostly due to the occassional disagreeable lyrics, some of the rhythms and forms and, yes, some of the lyrics, are brilliant.
My studies of music have led me to believe that each culture has a map back through it's history which is recorded in song. As the cultures of our country have met, there have been wonderful results.
It simply proves to me that somewhere, down deep, we have, as different peoples, the ability to sing the same song.

Learn more about this author, Gary Davis.
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