Final answer:
In the 1920s to 1950s, record companies catered to African-American audiences with 'Race Records', which featured genres like blues and jazz. These musical styles contributed to cultural shifts and the civil rights movement, and by the 1950s, gave rise to rock and roll, further blending cultural lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the era of the 1920s into the 1950s, record companies produced blues music specifically for African-American audiences on what were then called Race Records. This term was used to categorize all kinds of African-American music, including blues, gospel, and jazz, which were sold primarily to African-American audiences. Zora Neale Hurston and other artists of the time, including jazz and blues musicians, contributed to the Harlem Renaissance and the rise of African-American culture. As the decades progressed, these genres played a significant role in shaping American music and contributing to the civil rights movement.
Blues music, which evolved from African-American spirituals, became notorious during the Harlem Renaissance, and performers like Bessie Smith were heralded for their songs. Meanwhile, jazz, another American music form that was born out of ragtime and blues, epitomized 1920s culture, with musicians like Duke Ellington becoming iconic figures. Jazz provided a melting pot for different musical styles, such as the Chicago style and Kansas City Jazz.
By the 1950s, rock and roll emerged, blending rhythm and blues, jazz, and country music, with African-American artists and musicians like Sister Rosetta Tharpe at the forefront of the genre. The popularity of rock and roll was significant in blurring racial lines and promoting integration, as African-American and white artists alike gained popularity among diverse audiences, culminating in a powerful cultural influence on American society.