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MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
The music of the United States reflects the country's multi-ethnic population
through a diverse array of styles. Rock and roll, country, rhythm and blues,
jazz, and hip hop are among the country's most internationally-renowned genres.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, some forms of American popular music
have gained a near global audience.
The earliest inhabitants of the United States were Native Americans who
played the first music in the area. Beginning in the 17th century, immigrants
from the British Isles, Spain, and France began arriving in large numbers,
bringing with them new styles and instruments. African slaves brought musical
traditions, and each subsequent wave of immigrants contributed to a melting pot.
Much of modern popular music can trace its roots to the emergence in the late
19th century of African American blues and the growth of gospel music in the
1920s. The African American basis for popular music used elements derived from
European and indigenous musics. The United States has also seen documented folk
music and recorded popular music produced in the ethnic styles of the Ukrainian,
Irish, Scottish, Polish, Hispanic and Jewish communities, among others.
Many American cities and towns have vibrant music scenes which, in
turn, support a number of regional musical styles. Aside from cities such as
Detroit, New York, Chicago, Nashville and Los Angeles, many smaller cities have
produced distinctive styles of music. The Cajun and Creole traditions in
Louisiana music, the folk and popular styles of Hawaiian music, and the
bluegrass and old time music of the Southeastern states are a few examples of
diversity in American music.
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