Sometimes music follows the culture, and sometimes music changes the culture. In the 20th century, almost each decade witnessed a new form or genre of music. John Phillip Sousa kicked off the century with military marches. Rag time would soon follow as well as the slow migration of gospel music in the style of the southern plantations and church. This genre would give rise to burlesque and vaudeville extension's and Jazz and Blue's would follow closely. The Big Band jazz movement followed closely behind and reflected the nation's world war needs and support. The emergence of rockabilly and rock and roll dominated the 50's as American music became much more eclectic.
Then the British Invasion! The 60's and 70's were a time when music changed the culture. My sociology term paper was on the influence of the Beatle's on American and world culture. At the time, even my college professor thought I was following a dead end path. Only a few years later, nearly everyone would see the influence, both American and British on how our societies changed their spots. What made such a difference was not so much the sound as the message. The medium is the message, Sex, drugs and rock and roll, was the pigeon holing of those who did not like the message. Folk had always been a message driven medium, but the movement of Protest rock and roll became a game changer, becoming radio hits and influencer's. Jazz would add "fusion", Mo Town would become broadly embraced, and rap would hit the scene. By the 90's music would once again follow culture, and the next wave or "invasion" is yet to show. Sometime soon, a new and truly creative medium will come forth, but packaging and marketing are leading the current music culture. Time waits for no one, and someday soon.....
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