[ClearCase_guy]

Virtually all of America's music comes from negroes and I will openly say I am not proud of it, and it think it has been destructive to our society. The jungle beat is not the heart beat of advancing civilization.

I would not have said that 10 years ago -- but Obama and Holder have freed me to join the honest conversation about race which is so long overdue.

[RoosterRedux]

Virtually all of America's music comes from negroes.

Actually Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys invented rap and improvisational jazz...see if you don't agree...Ida Red

Wholesome as a Texas BBQ.

[re_nortex]

Virtually all of America's music comes from negroes and I will openly say I am not proud of it, and it think it has been destructive to our society. The jungle beat is not the heart beat of advancing civilization.

I would not have said that 10 years ago -- but Obama and Holder have freed me to join the honest conversation about race which is so long overdue.

Very well said and I agree completely. Even here on Free Republic, I find too many defending that kind of "music", be it rap or that so-called jumpy "soul" music. I don't even like it when Mark Levin plays that harsh caterwauling of Ray Charles. The song "America the Beautiful" is meant to be solemn and reverential -- not a bunch of wild screaming. Years ago, I've wrote him asking that it be replaced by a military chorus or soloist like this moving rendition.

[Fiji Hill]

Virtually all of America's music comes from negroes and I will openly say I am not proud of it, and it think it has been destructive to our society. The jungle beat is not the heart beat of advancing civilization.

Not all music by Negroes is jungle beat. Negro spirituals, which W. E. B. Du Bois, in his book The Soul of Black Folk (Chicago; McClurg, 1903) called the only art form native to America, can be quite melodic. George Gershwin's work was heavily influenced by black American music.

[Pelham]

“Virtually all of America’s music comes from negroes and I will openly say I am not proud of it,”

Bluegrass and Country comes out of Appalachia IIRC and those folks are Scots Irish for the most part. The Carter Family and Jimmy Rodgers come to mind.

[Baynative]

I agree with your observation. But, it wasn't always that way. In fact it was "negroes" who gave America and the world a down beat and the soul to go with that will always be there for many of us.

Back in the day it sounded like THIS.

[right way right]

Wopbodlelooboppabopbamboo you said it.

[driftless2]

virtually all ...negroes"

Not true. A great deal of what is considered popular music came from a variety of sources. Certainly black Americans contributed a lot. But much popular music came from New York City, the Appalachians, and the many small towns that dot the landscape.