The document discusses the history and origins of several American musical genres such as spirituals, blues, and jazz. It notes that spirituals were composed by slaves and some contained hidden meanings. Blues emerged in the late 1800s from the music of poor black communities in the South and incorporated instruments like guitars and harmonicas over time. Jazz developed from blues and was popularised by early greats like Robert Johnson and Leadbelly. The document also briefly outlines the origins of specific songs like "Steal Away", "St. Louis Blues", and "Riverboat Queen".

1. Sharon Mei
Paige McAllister
Shalimar Rosario
Rina Shust
Sabrina Yang

2.  written prior to the Civil War
 composed by slaves
 some believe it to have a hidden meaning
 “Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus
Steal away, steal away home
I ain't got long to stay here
My Lord, He calls me
He calls me by the thunder
The trumpet sounds within-a my soul
I ain't got long to stay here”

3.  old hymn
 slaves sang in hopes of reaching the free states,
while others sang in hopes of new beginnings and
prosperity
 Johnny Cash did a cover
 popular songs among churches

4.  emerged in the late 1800s
 originally songs of suffering sung by poor blacks in
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the South along the river
later accompanied by acoustic guitars and
harmonicas
called “devil music” by whites
blacks moved north in early the 1900s, bring this
music with them
W.C. Handy, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly
later a bass guitar was added
rhythm and
blues music

5.  originally composed in 1929 after the Great
Mississippi Flood of 1927—the flood was the most
destructive in American history
 made famous via a Led Zeppelin cover in 1971

6.  composed by Ferde Grofé for an orchestra
 based on the lands the river runs through
 created in 1925

7.  originally written in 1969
 “Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis
Pumped a lot of pain down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
„Til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen”
 Famous Tina Turner, David Bowie, and Santigold
cover verisons