About the Exhibit

Rock and roll’s most stalwart roots are based in styles of music developed primarily by African-Americans: blues, rhythm & blues, jazz and gospel. These styles, in turn, had their own roots, which can be traced back to musical traditions that were born in Africa hundreds of years ago. They were brought to America when the first Africans arrived in 1619, and as these styles took root and evolved, they moved from the rural plantations of the Mississippi delta and the melting-pot metropolis of New Orleans, up the Mississippi River to urban centers like Memphis and later, Chicago. Without these African-American influences, rock and roll, as we know it, would never have existed.

Over the last 50 years, as rock and roll itself has evolved, African-American music has continued to be a major influence. From soul to funk to hip-hop, styles of music developed by African-Americans have been incorporated into mainstream rock and roll and have shaped the definition of rock’s identity.

The exhibit includes works of art created by 10 African-American artists, each inspired by and representing African and African-American music. Nine music genres are represented by works of art that convey the essence of the music and the spirit of the people who created it. The artists, commissioned by The Arts League of Michigan, include James Spearman, Geoff Gillespie, Ivan Stewart, Gigi Boldon, Barbara Brown King, Yvonne Lamar Rogers, Jason Phillips, Jasmine Murrell, LaVern Homan and Senghor Reid. Together they have created twenty-one works of art that form a visual timeline of African and African-American music culminating in rock and roll. A background soundtrack adds an essential music component to the exhibition.

Juju [from the West African Hausa tribal language] — An object used as a fetish, a charm or an amulet in West Africa or the supernatural power ascribed to such an object.
  

Jubilee [Biblical] — 1. In the Bible, a year of rest to be observed by the Israelites every 50th year during which slaves were to be set free. 2. Celebrations held by African-American slaves, usually at Christmas and Easter, which included respite from labor, feasting, music and dancing.

Antebellum [Latin anti—before + bellum—wars] — Existing before a war, esp. before the American Civil War.
 

Joyful Noise[Greek gethein—to rejoice + Old French—noise] — Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of His hame: Make His praise glorious. [Psalms 66: 1-2]

Gospel Music [Old English—good + spel—news] — A kind of distinctively American religious music that is associated with evangelism and is based on the simple melodies of folk music blended with melodic and rhythmic elements of spirituals, blues and jazz.
 

Juke [of West African origin, akin to tribal Dzug, to live wickedly] — A roadside drinking establishment that offers cheap drinks, food and music for dancing, often blues music.

The Blues [Middle English, short for Blue Devils, a feeling of despondency] — 1. Depressed spirits, despondency, melancholy. 2. A song, originating with African-Americans, that is marked by the frequent occurrence of blue or flattened notes. 3. The genre constituing such songs. 
  

Jive [origin unkown] — 1. The jargon of jazz musicians or enthusiasts. 2. Deceptive, nonsensical or glib talk. 3. To play or dance to jive music.

Jazz [origin unknown] — 1. Music originating in New Orleans at the beginning of the 20th century and subsequently developing through various increasingly complex styles and varying degrees of improvisation.
  

R&B (Rhythm & Blues) — A kind of music developed by African-Americans that combines blues and jazz, characterized by a strong backbeat and repeated variations on syncopated instrumental phrases.

Jump — 1. To spring free from the ground, to move suddenly or involuntarily. 2. A form of R&B music that places emphasis on strong rhythm, exciting solo work especially by saxophones, and vocals in a shout-blues manner.
  

Justified [latin justus—right] — 1. Proven or shown to be right. 1. Qualified as a surety by taking an oath of ownership.

Soul [Middle English, from Old English sawol] — 1. The animating and vital principle in human beings, credited with the faculties of thought, actions and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity. 2. A sense of ethnic pride among African-Americans, expressed in areas such as language, social customs, religion and music.
  

Jungle Boogie [Jungle - often attributed to Hindi—jangal + Boogie - probably alternate of bogle—goblin, object of fear] — A 1974 hit by Kool & The Gang, frequently sampled by hip-hop artists, perhaps the funkiest piece of music ever recorded.

Funk [French dialectical funquer—to give off smoke] 1. — A type of popular music combining elements of jazz, blues and soul and characterized by syncopated rhythm and a heavy, repetitive bass line. 2. A strong, offensive, unwashed odor.
  

Jam [origin unknown] — 1. To drive or wedge forcibly into a tight position. 2. To fill often to excess. 3. To make unintelligible by sending out interfering messages or signals. 4. To force one's way into a restricted space. 5. To take part in a musical jam session.

Hip-Hop [Hip—derived from the African Wolof language hipi—to open one's eyes, to be aware; Hop—derived from the Old English hoppen—to move with light, bounding skips or leaps] — The popular street culture of inner-city youth, characterized by graffiti art, break dancing, and rap music.
  

Journey [Middle English journei—day, day's travel, journey, from Old French jornee] — 1. The act of traveling from one place to another; a trip. 2. A process or course likened to traveling; a passage.

Rock and Roll — A form of popular music arising from and incorporating a variety of musical styles, especially rhythm and blues, country music, and gospel. Originating in the United States in the 1950s, it is characterized by electronically amplified instrumentation, a heavily accented beat, and relatively simple phrase structure.