What was the relationship between the blues and slavery?

Answer 1

Effectively, the slave trade created the genre "Blues" music. In order to fully understand the Blues, we must return to the time of slavery in the United States. Out of 35-40 million Africans to be tricked, trapped and captured onto slave ships, only an estimated 15 million actually made it to America. Their own African heritage was stripped from them, or it withered away on its own. It's undeniable that their religions were suppressed and replaced by Christianity. Slavery was a nightmare come true. Yet the slaves played and sang music which later influenced music all over the world. From the music of slaves cam blues and jazz. Through the fields you could hear long, drawn out moaning going on, but the slave owners didn't see much harm in it so they let it continue. After the work day was over, slaves would get together and sing out affirmations, pledges and prayers that they eventually lengthened out with repetitive choruses. At first, they accompany their vocals with hand made drums, but slave owners soon grew worrisome that this may be some sort of signal being made from one set of slaves to another that would ultimately lead to a revolt so the use of drums was abolished. The songs, however, remained a reflection of the infinite sadness and despair of an oppressed people. Picking cotton and labouring on the railroads became two of the most important themes in the blues. The slave songs evolved to reflect the toil and pain of the slavery. From these slaves came the children who grew up to become the great early blues singers and musicians. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Yes, Blues Music played a very important part of the African slaves lives. They used to sing whilst they worked in the plantations. The songs were usually about their life and what they were doing.

Answer 3

Many famous Blues Musicians were given song from their ancestors who were slaves on the plantations, the slaves would call to each other using a steady beat or rhythm which turned into a song. They sang to pass the time during their back breaking work.

Answer 4

the relationship between the blues and the slaves is that slaves gathered in groups during the night to play music. This music beame know as the blues.

Answer 5

you got the question the wrong way round. it should read "why was slavery important to blues music?"

blues evolved from slave chants.

Answer 6

Blues is the outcome of gospel. Gospel was used by slaves to relay messages through the songs they sang. Certain songs would tell them that they were heading north to freedom .