Sonny’s BluesSonny’s Blues

History, Social Implications, and History, Social Implications, and Sonny’s Blues Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwinby James Baldwin

BIRTH OF AN ARTFORMBIRTH OF AN ARTFORM

During the 1800’s music was an integral During the 1800’s music was an integral part of the plantation life of slavespart of the plantation life of slaves

Plantation songs, spirituals (modern day Plantation songs, spirituals (modern day gospel), and field “hollers”, were part of gospel), and field “hollers”, were part of everyday life to celebrate, mourn, everyday life to celebrate, mourn, entertain, commemorate, or worship.entertain, commemorate, or worship.

Slaves were often not allowed to speak Slaves were often not allowed to speak with one another while working, so they with one another while working, so they improvised by communicating through improvised by communicating through song.song.

A Unique CombinationA Unique Combination At the turn of the century (1900) At the turn of the century (1900)

many different cultures existed in many different cultures existed in New OrleansNew Orleans, including African , including African Americans, and European Americans, and European immigrants from Italy, France, immigrants from Italy, France, England, and Ireland.England, and Ireland.

Music of the plantations Music of the plantations eventually blended with European eventually blended with European musical tradition and instruments musical tradition and instruments to create the foundation for blues, to create the foundation for blues, ragtime, and other forms from ragtime, and other forms from which Jazz evolvedwhich Jazz evolved..

The Role of Jazz Music in The Role of Jazz Music in Sonny’s BluesSonny’s Blues

Sonny’s BluesSonny’s Blues is set in Harlem, New is set in Harlem, New York during the 1940-50’sYork during the 1940-50’s

Action takes place prior to most civil Action takes place prior to most civil rights gains in predominantly black and rights gains in predominantly black and impoverished communitiesimpoverished communities

However “old fashioned”, traditional However “old fashioned”, traditional values still persisted in black communityvalues still persisted in black community

““Good Time People”Good Time People” Forms of Jazz such as Forms of Jazz such as BebopBebop became became

increasingly popular amongst the increasingly popular amongst the youth of the time period.youth of the time period.

It was the music of choice at It was the music of choice at nightclubs and dance halls dominated nightclubs and dance halls dominated by a younger generationby a younger generation

These nightspots became notorious These nightspots became notorious because of the drug use and “deviant” because of the drug use and “deviant” sexual behaviors associated with themsexual behaviors associated with them

Talented and FlawedTalented and Flawed Many prominent Many prominent

Jazz musicians Jazz musicians of the time of the time period were period were addicted to addicted to illegal drugsillegal drugs

Billie Holiday, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and Miles Davis, and Charlie “Bird” Charlie “Bird” Parker were Parker were heroin addicts heroin addicts

Charlie “Bird” ParkerCharlie “Bird” Parker According to Sonny, “The greatest Jazz According to Sonny, “The greatest Jazz

musician alive.”musician alive.” Nicknamed “Yard bird” supposedly for Nicknamed “Yard bird” supposedly for

his love of chicken.his love of chicken. Played the saxophone and had his first Played the saxophone and had his first

“gig” or job playing professionally by age “gig” or job playing professionally by age 1515

Eventually moved from Kansas to New Eventually moved from Kansas to New York where he found greater fame York where he found greater fame playing with Dizzzy Gillespie and playing with Dizzzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk, who were jazz greats. Thelonious Monk, who were jazz greats.

““Bird” in Bird” in Sonny’s BluesSonny’s Blues

Bird became known Bird became known as one of the as one of the BebopBebop greatsgreats

Bebop at the time Bebop at the time was a new was a new subgenre or form of subgenre or form of Jazz, favored by the Jazz, favored by the youth and incredibly youth and incredibly popularpopular

Sonny refers to Sonny refers to Louis Armstrong’s Louis Armstrong’s music as “down music as “down home crap” pg. home crap” pg. 619 because it is 619 because it is old fashioned, and old fashioned, and considered more considered more “acceptable” by “acceptable” by society society (mainstream).(mainstream).

““The idea was going around that to The idea was going around that to use heroin might make you play as use heroin might make you play as great as Bird…”- Miles Davisgreat as Bird…”- Miles Davis

Bird was Bird was considered a considered a musical genius musical genius despite his intense despite his intense heroin addictionheroin addiction

But instead of But instead of shunning the drug, shunning the drug, younger musicians younger musicians opted to try it to opted to try it to enhance their enhance their abilitiesabilities

Exit Slip QuestionsExit Slip Questions Why can’t the narrator understand his Why can’t the narrator understand his

brother’s love for Jazz music? What brother’s love for Jazz music? What doesn’t he understand, the music or the doesn’t he understand, the music or the man?man?

Like Bird, many celebrities today Like Bird, many celebrities today continue to struggle with different continue to struggle with different issues. Why do you think those who issues. Why do you think those who attain fame continue to struggle with attain fame continue to struggle with addiction, abuse, etc? Provide a real addiction, abuse, etc? Provide a real life example.life example.

Write All About ItWrite All About It How does “life imitate art” in How does “life imitate art” in

Sonny’s BluesSonny’s Blues? “Bird” Parker and ? “Bird” Parker and Sonny both struggle with life Sonny both struggle with life despite pursuing their passions…despite pursuing their passions…why do you think those who attain why do you think those who attain fame continue to struggle? Provide fame continue to struggle? Provide a real life example.a real life example.