African Americans-famous and anonymous alike-have helped shape popular musical genres ranging from jazz and blues to rock 'n' roll and rap. This book provides a vivid account of that process, beginning with the work songs and spirituals of slaves and continuing up to the present. African-American Musicians tells the stories of figures such as bluesman Robert Johnson, whose guitar playing was so extraordinary that people said he must have made a deal with the devil; jazz great Duke Ellington, considered one of America's greatest composers and bandleaders; classical singer Marian Anderson, who struck a blow for civil rights with her music; Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop"; and many, many more.

 

This book is part of a book series called Major Black Contributions From Emancipation To Civil Rights .

This book has been graded for interest at 6+ years.

There are 64 pages in this book. This book was published 2014 by Start Publishing .