Upton: Black history has its own soundtrack

In the days when slaves dotted the cotton fields of the South, they often passed the time and expressed their thoughts and emotions through extemporaneous musical shouts and rambles called "field hollers."

These musical forms gave way to work songs, which were repeated by others often in a call-and-response style. Historians describe the "call and response" as a spontaneous and rhythmic verbal, and even non-verbal, interaction between a speaker and listener who responds to what's being said or sung. Some of these early music forms are considered to be the precursors of the blues.

Black music history evolved along with the history and evolution of the people. During slavery, spirituals were often sung, some giving hints of how to escape to freedom using language from the Bible. For example, "crossing the River Jordan" had a dual meaning. It referred to entering paradise after death and also obtaining freedom from slavery by escaping to the North. People sang what became known as freedom songs during the Civil Rights movement. Spiritual music, often in the form of gospel, also influenced soul and R&B genres.

Black music, which has had a major impact on what would become known as American music in general, is characterized by improvisation, or simply being in the moment, responding to one's own emotions through song. Many songs which became more soul in nature make use of what are called blue notes, or flat notes sung just below a more mainstream note. In jazz and ragtime examples, we see the use of syncopation, a deviation from the main tune, adding in extra notes and arrangements.

There are some historical musical greats that receive very little press today. One of these is Thomas Wiggins, also called Thomas Bethune. He was autistic and blind, but was a musical prodigy which an almost magical talent. Historians tell us he was born a slave in 1849 and along with his parents was sold to a Georgia lawyer named Neil Bethune as an infant.

He could pick out tunes on a piano and reproduce them by the time he was four. He had his first concert at age eight. He could recite a poem or perform a piece of music after hearing it only one time. His owner began hiring him out as a musician and published some of his songs.

Blind Tom, as he was called, eventually played the works of Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Beethoven, and Thalberg. He traveled and performed at concerts in the l800s, and it was said that he brought in revenue of about $50,000 a year, eventually making his representatives and owners a fortune. He was able to play two different songs at the same time and sing a third. He could also mimic nature and animal sounds and repeat whole conversations verbatim.

Another historical great was Florence Beatrice Smith Price, who was the first black female composer of symphonic music. Born in 1887 to professional and educated parents, her mother taught her to play the piano at a young age; she later studied music formally. Her "Symphony in E minor" was played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She went on to write chamber music, classical music, spirituals, and vocal works. She was active in the New Negro Arts Movement and wrote more than 300 musical works. She often used the pseudonym Veejay, and even wrote music for silent movies.

Closer to our time, the Funky Four Plus One More is a rap group that made music history by having the first female rapper. They were signed to a record label, Enjoy Records, in 1979. The Funky Four Plus One More was also the first rap group to ever perform on live national television, appearing on the hit sketch comedy show, "Saturday Night Live" on Valentine's Day in 1981.

These musical greats, little known today, have helped shape the vast culture and exciting history of a musical form that continues to evolve and influence the music of the world.

Tabi Upton, MA-lpc, is a local therapist and free-lance writer. Email her at tabiupton@bellsouth.net.