Race records were 78 rpm gramophone records made by and for African Americans during the early 20th century, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s. A gramophone A gramophone African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. They primarily contained "race music," which comprised a variety of African American genres music such as blues, jazz, and gospel music, but many also contained comedy. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and Race records were marketed by Okeh Records,photo Emerson Records,photo Vocalion Records,photo Victor Talking Machine Company,photo and several other companies. Okeh Records began as an Independent record label based in the United States of America in Emerson Records was a Record label active in the United States of America between 1916 to 1928 Vocalion Records was a Record label historically active in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Victrola redirects here For other uses see Victrola (disambiguation The Victor Talking Machine Company ( 1901 – 1929
Such records were labeled "race records" in reference to their marketing to African Americans, but white Americans gradually began to purchase such records as well. The term first appeared in an advertisement in a 1922 issue of the Chicago Defender, an African American newspaper. The Chicago Defender was the United States ’ largest and most influential black weekly newspaper by the beginning of World War I. African American newspapers are those Newspapers in the United States that seek readers primarily of African American descent [1]
Billboard magazine published "Race Records" charts between 1945 and 1949, initially covering juke box plays and from 1948 also covering sales. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry These were revised versions of the "Harlem Hit Parade" chart which it had introduced in 1942. In June 1949, at the suggestion of Billboard journalist Jerry Wexler, the magazine renamed its chart again to "Rhythm & Blues Records". Gerald "Jerry" Wexler ( January 10 1917 &ndash August 15 2008) was a music journalist turned music producer and was regarded Wexler wrote : "Race" was a common term then, a self-referral used by blacks. . . On the other hand, "Race Records" didn't sit well. . . I came up with a handle I thought suited the music well - 'rhythm and blues'. . . a label more appropriate to more enlightened times. "[2]
Although in hindsight the term "race record" may seem to be a derogatory one, in the early 20th century the African American press routinely used the term "the Race" to refer to African Americans as a whole, and used the terms "race man" or "race woman" to refer to African American individuals who showed pride and support for his or her people and culture. [3]
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See also
- Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - for history of the Billboard R&B record chart, known as the "Race Records" chart from February 1945 to June 1949. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry
- African American music
References
- ^ Race Music | St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ Jerry Wexler, Rhythm and the Blues: a life in American music, 1993, ISBN 0-224-03963-6
- ^ Race Music: CHAPTER ONE
- Ramsey, Guthrie P. African American music (also called black music) is an umbrella term given to a range of Music and Musical genres emerging from or influenced by the Gerald "Jerry" Wexler ( January 10 1917 &ndash August 15 2008) was a music journalist turned music producer and was regarded , Jr. (2003). Race Music: Black Cultures from Bebop to Hip-Hop. Music of the African Diaspora, 7. Berkeley, California; London, England: University of California Press; Chicago, Illinois: Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College. ISBN 0520210484.
External links
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