Music in the U.S.

In my American studies class we have had a couple of speakers come in and teach about some kind of music as it relates to American Studies. However it was strange to me that neither of these speakers discussed Bluegrass music.

No, it is not avant garde. No, it is not made up of Afro-Caribbean and French influences, but it is a major part of American Music and has produced many famous musicians, even Elvis started out in bluegrass with such artists as Johnny Cash, singing at the Grand Ole Opry.

Bluegrass is a combination of Celtic music and African American intruments. Did you know that the banjo is in fact from Africa? And most of the rhythm of the spiritual comes from this mixture of Celtic and African culture.

While the instruments were from mixed origins, most of the lyrics to these songs come from the folksongs of the British isles. As you can see from the following clips, the rhythm of the songs are similar as is the melancholy tone.

Bluegrass has also produced such stars as Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton and almost single handedly brought popular country into being, for being so all American it was strange to me that more attention wasn't paid to this genre of music.