Timeline of African American Music

Carnegie Hall’s Timeline of African American Music traces a path from the drumbeats of Mother Africa to the work songs and Spirituals created in a new land to the blues, gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, and hip-hop expressions of African Americans that are celebrated around the world. The timeline presents a detailed view of the evolution of African American musical genres over a  400-year span, revealing the unique characteristics of each genre and style alongside in-depth studies of pioneering musicians who created some of America’s most timeless artistic expressions.

Many of the genres included have a subset of styles and are associated with specific historical periods, social contexts, and functions. In addition to the interactive timeline with archival materials and audio examples, the website features articles from scholars covering a range of topics in music history. The Timeline of African American Music is an integral part of Carnegie Hall’s online educational resources and serves music lovers, educators, and students around the world.