African Americans in the Art of Music

Black History Month or African American History Month, is an annual celebration in February. People from all around, (most commonly in the U.S.) celebrate African American successes and history. It is a time where people of African ancestry can gather to honor their ancestors and their heritage. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.

African Americans have made and continue to make astonishing accomplishments in the music industry. Their music can be traced back to the days of slavery, when the slaves in the field would be singing to pass some time. They created various styles of music such as Jazz, Gospel, or Blues. 

Here are two musicians and/or entertainers:

Esther Lee Jones, (1919 – 1934) or Baby Esther, was an American singer and Entertainer in the late 1920s. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised by her parents Gertrude and William Jones. Although, she did not stay in Chicago for long. She traveled to many other places, as she grew in popularity, like New York and Europe.

Most of her performances were held in Harlem, at the Cotton Club. In her performances, Esther would not only sing, but dance as well. She is most commonly known for her scat singing and “baby” singing style. Some of her scat singing included sounds like, “boo-boo-boo,” or “wha-da-da.” She would also mimic “coos,” of a baby which is how her nickname, Baby Esther, developed.  

Not many know, but Esther was also the inspiration for the cartoon character “Betty Boop.” A woman named Helen Kane first saw Esther perform in 1928 at the Everglades Club on Broadway and got inspired to use her scat singing. Helen used many of Esther’s scats in her own singing and performing, she then grew popularity from there. In 1930, Fleischer Studios released a caricature of Helen Kane named “Betty Boop.” Soon, Kane sued Fleischer Studios for using her image and music style. After years of legal battles, it was declared that Betty Boop did not originate from Kane, but Esther Lee Jones. Today, Esther is best known as Betty Boop’s black grandmother.

Edward Kennedy Ellington, (1899 – 1974) or Duke Ellington, was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra. He was born in Washington D.C., and was raised by his parents Daisy and James Ellington, who were also musicians. Ellington’s most famous works are “Sophisticated Lady” and “In A Sentimental Mood.”

At a very young age, he started playing the piano and by the age of seventeen he became a professional pianist. At age fourteen he composed his first two songs “Soda Fountain Rag” and “What you Gonna do when the Bed Breaks Down.”He also earned the nickname “Duke” when he was younger due to his charismatic and gentlemen attitude. Although, he was also called “Dumpy ” by a few of his close friends due to the fact that he would eat large amounts of food occasionally. 

 His popularity began to grow after a performance at the Cotton Club, when he first created a band called the “Washingtons.” The band consisted of six players who used a variety of instruments like the trumpet and trombone. This popularity was a major turning point in his and the band’s career, and caused them to travel around the globe. 

For most of his career, Ellington composed thousands of songs and created many great performances with other popular musicians like Max Roach or Coleman Hawkins. Ellington continues to be a major figure in the history of jazz music, and inspires many musicians in their careers.

“Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.” – Duke Ellington