Music Collection

Explore musical genres, their history and origins including African, Blues, Classical/Orchestral, Country/Bluegrass, Cuban/Latin/Salsa, Gospel, Hymns and Spirituals, Gullah Music: Evolution of African Music, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jazz, Musical Theater, Opera, Pop and Soul, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock and Roll. Be sure to view the individual assets that stand alone, just below the Topics, and have not been included in a specific topic or genre.

Also explore our Musical Instruments and Musicians and Music History sections. We also have a section on Holiday Music.

Within this Collection

Jazz | Gullah Music
Episode 7

Audio

Jazz music was born out of the blues. The key element was syncopation (syn-co-pa-tion) that stressed the off beats of the rhythm. In the same way that Gullah language is a mixture of African and...
Spirituals | Gullah Music
Episode 4

Audio

Spirituals developed at the same time as work songs on the plantations. Although they were religious songs with a Christian message, spirituals were also heartfelt expressions of the slave experience...
Gospel | Gullah Music
Episode 6

Audio

After slavery ended, some African American churches shifted from traditional spirituals to a new kind of religious music called gospel. This style of music brought together the elements of the “shout”...
Pop & Soul | Gullah Music
Episode 10

Audio

Rhythm and blues was an early form of rock and roll but it also contributed to a smoother sounding musical style called soul. In 1960, Berry Gordy, Jr. began a recording label in Detroit, Michigan...
African Music | Gullah Music
Episode 1

Audio

Music was an important tradition in Africa centuries before Africans were brought to America. Singing was a part of everyday life when people were at work, worship or play. The drum was the most...
Shagger's Hall of Fame | ETV Shorts

Video

Derived from the jitterbug, the Shag is a legendary dance that grew up in the Carolinas. The Shagger's Hall of Fame is located in North Myrtle Beach. Thousands flock to the area every year to enjoy...
Steel Drum Band | ETV Shorts

Video

The Waccamaw Intermediate School has a Steel Drum Band called The Calypso Gators. The band is made up of 4th, 5th and 6th grade students, and being a part of this band is teaching them more than just...
South Carolina Jazz Festival | ETV Shorts

Video

Jazz king John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was born in Cheraw in 1917. Dizzy was a founder of modern jazz, an innovative trumpeter known for his bent horn and bulging cheeks. The South Carolina Jazz...