Black History in Music: Three Artists Who Broke Barriers for Black Musicians

February marks Black History Month on the calendar every year. Devon Alexis, music blogger, chooses to celebrate the occasion by listening to the Black musicians who changed music forever. Here are just a few of those incredible artists:

Scott Joplin

Devon Alexis Scott Joplin


Known as the ‘King of Ragtime,’ this legendary composer had his heyday at the turn of the 20th century.  But his mark on music still lingers today.  In the ‘70s, his music was revitalized in popularity, when Joshua Rifkin released an album composed solely of Joplin’s pieces.  Joplin constructed unique ideas for harmony, complex bass patterns and syncopation which even contemporaries compete to imitate.

Louis Armstrong

Devon Alexis Louis Armstrong


Without Louis Armstrong, jazz may have never been what it was, or what it is today.  His ability to craft his own style in a time when black voices were very much silenced is incredible.  In the ‘30s, Armstrong broke barriers and was even featured in Hollywood flicks of his day like Ex-Flame (1930), A Rhapsody in Black and Blue (1932), and I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal, You (1932).

Prince

Devon Alexis Prince


The music of Prince encapsulates the entirety of the transition from the ‘70s to the ‘80s: funky, fresh and full of soul!  Prince’s music is still enjoyed all over the world, adored by Rock, Blue and Jazz fans alike.  Whether you remember him as a symbol or a music mastermind — Prince is an icon forever!

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