Why are there very few black rockers?

Question

I have learned that black people invented rock music but the vast majority of rock stars are white today.In fact in most cases if you are black and love rock music other black people will frown on your musical tatses cos you're not listening exclusively to rap,rnb or reggae.The only black rock star I know is Lenny Kravitz. I am not a huge fan of rock music but I do like some rock songs and as a black man I would love to see black rock stars but it just isn't happening.I would especially love to hear your opinion if you are black.

Answer 1

This is a good question, and the last time I answered a similar question to this - I was ignored. Lenny Kravitz aside, I prefer the Bad Brains, Fishbone, or 24-7 Spyz. Most of these bands are still not well-known either. I think the answer to your question lies contained in your question - "if you are black and love rock music other black people will frown on your musical tastes because you are not listening exclusively to Rap, R'n'B, or Reggae." There seems to be a culture of racial conformity among those who would criticise others for the music they like based on race.

Answer 2

Interesting Question! In fact, you are correct - whereas "Rock" as we know it is a combonation of, basically, Country and R&B, it was first played by black musicians, and was only accepted when white musicians played the same songs to a wider (& whiter) audience.

This is fact - not sure why others are denying this.

It's also being repeated in modern terms - would "Rap" (in it's various forms) be as popular without the mainstream appeal of, say, Beastie Boys, Vanilla Ice, Eminem, etc? Bizarre that people deny this...

But while I have no answer for your question - I do have a recent observation that furthers your question - since "Rock" is just an amalgamation of Country and R&B, why is it that, these days, there is very little actual rock music, but Country and R&B are both thriving - in fact - in my travels around the country, I find today's youth enjoying those two genres, at the same time, and not getting the irony of this modern musical segregation.

Bizarre.

If it means anything - Paul Stanley of KISS is currently touring to support a solo record he did, and his tour drummer is black.

Answer 3

It all started with the blues, my friend. The blues originated from slaves singing while they were working. Which, after they were freed, was put to music, then rock n roll evolved from the blues. (Just a fun fact: the term "Rock n Roll" was a slang term for sex used by blacks when blues was prominent). There have always been black artists in Rock music, but unfortunately, record labels control what is marketed. Therefore, if the record guys don't think that blacks in rock won't sell, you won't see these artists in the mainstream. Same goes with Rap, but the reverse. Eminem has been one of the only major white artists to break this barrier. As mentioned by others, please check out Living Colour, Bad Brains, 24-7 Spys, Sevendust, Hendrix, and Many others. There are so many that I am forgetting right now, so do yourself a favor and seek out all artists you can. I have to say, it isn't about black and white, just great music.

Answer 4

I asked a question like this before. I was always interested in this topic. I read some of the racist comments above, and I am very disappointed. I can very much understand where you are coming from. I am a young black girl and I love rock music! But I was disappointed to learn that not many black people are rock musicians. They prefer to do the genres you listed: rap, R&B, and reggae. I am also West Indian, so my musical tastes are greatly frowned upon by my black friends and other black kids. But I still love rock because I'm not racist and I don't care what the musician's skin color is, I just enjoy their music and the fact that they are talented. We all know about the greatest: Jimi Hendrix http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_hendrix , Chuck Berry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Berry and Little Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard. They were some of the first to play rock music. Then came Michael Jackson, James Brown, Prince, and Tina Turner who were more pop/rock. Bob Marley is even in the rock n' roll Hall Of Fame. I was proud to hear that a black West Indian had been inducted. There are even some black rockers today. They are in more indie bands, so that is why you probably have not heard of them.

There is a band called Sevendust with a black lead singer named Lajon Witherspoon. They are a metal band from Atlanta. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevendust

There is another band called Bloc Party. They are a British band also with a black lead singer named Kele Okereke. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloc_Party

There is another band called Bad Brains. They are a punk rock band from Washington D.C. with all black members.

There is another band that I know that has a black vocalist. They are called Killswitch Engage. They are a metalcore band with lead singer Howard Jones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killswitch_Engage

There is also Thin Lizzy, an Irish hard rock band featuring black vocalist Phil Lynott.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin_Lizzy

Another band, called Plain White T's has a black drummer named De'Mar Hamilton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_white_t%27s

Jada Pinkett-Smith has a metal band called Wicked Wisdom with all black members.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Wisdom

Basically, black people were the first ones to create rock music based off of blues and R&B, and then since they didn't have the resources to get it out there, and racism was still a very big thing, whites are the main ones who play rock music. That's why Elvis Presely is considered the king of rock n' roll. Whites sort of stole rock from black people and claimed it as their own.

Good luck on your search!

Answer 5

Because rock has a different type of rhythm than other types of music. I think for black people its not "fashionable" to head bang and jumping up and down and such. They wanna look cool while they are jamming. (Note: This answer is courtesy of my husband who is black. Personally i love rock and headbanging and all that stuff, prob cuz im white LOL) But hey there are a lot of black rockers just not in the mainstream because the big labels only sign bands that will "sell" and since the majority of fans of rock are white they assume they wanna see white people playing rock music. Same thing goes for hip hop. The big hip hop labels will be more inclined to sign a black rapper versus a white or hispanic rapper because hip hop is defined as "black music". One of my fav bands is Bloc Party and their lead singer is both black and gay. On the other side my favorite hip hop group is Atmosphere and their leader is a white dude named Slug.
There are black rockers but honestly if you like the music it shouldnt matter what color or sex or orientation the person is singing it. Its not like your marrying the musician...your just rocking out to the song!

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

Washington is just a huge and all know city and is certainly worthy deliver a holiday or simply visit that city. with hotelbye you will discover more. One of the symbols of Washington and the whole America could be the popular White House, the official home of the President of the United States. Your home of each president except George Washington, it was initially built by James Hoban in 1792, and following being burnt down by British forces in 1814 was renewed in 1818. Even though excursions of the inner that include the East, Blue, Green, and Red Rooms; the Ballroom; and the State Dining Room should be reserved properly beforehand, every tourist to Washington will want to see this well-known creating, at least from the outside. Next door to the White House are the elaborate 1833 Greek Revival Treasury Building and the 1871 Executive Office Building, one of the very most impressive previous government structures in Washington.

Answer 7

Actually, the lead singer of Killswitch Engage is a black male.

The all-female band Kittie had a member named Fallon Bowman who was black but that was a few years ago.

There is several people in bands that are black, you've just got to find them.
I have been listening to rock music for more than 14 years now and I have been finding more and more black rock artist out there.

Answer 8

I guess the music scene has its roles defined by color. It's a shame, but it seems to be true - as an avid rock fan there is very little out there now in the genre that is written and performed by black musicians. At least I haven't seen much.

Living Colour was one of my favorite bands of the 80's and 90's - they were the perfect marriage of hard rock with some funk elements. Vernon Reid is an amazing guitarist, and has influenced students of every color to pick up a guitar.

Answer 9

Don't know really, but there are a fair few out there which are black or have black members;

Killswitch Engage
Rage Against the Machine
Bloc Party
Skunk Anansie
Noisettes
Libertines

All reletively recent examples to add to the list of Hendrix, Prince, Living Color, Kravitz and the rest.

Answer 10

Bo Diddle, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, those are the originators and still the best.
Try Fishbone or Living Colour or Jimmi Hendrix.
The fact is, Hip-Hop and Rap are more popular at this point in musical culture, but there are still some black rockers out there. Many are intigrated into bands that aren't defined by their race.