Written by CRIT Media Tech Naythen T. Lowe
The historical footsteps of Rock ’n’ Roll culture branches off in various directions when looking at the scope of the American influence of the genre. The barebones combination of blues and folk music birthed a new style of songwriting that gave leeway for inventive and prominent artists – from differing backgrounds and racial heritage – to make the stage with compositional advancements that’s growing more and more popular every day. We think about the rock legend greats and musicians that have sprouted and evolved the genre – Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Chris Issack, even Elvis Presley – and we love their styles and techniques in performing their works. But when we look at the diversity of said musicians cross generations of American heritage and influence, we find that there is a secret ingredient in the sauce: Indigenous peoples and cultures. Discovering the connections between tribal bands integrating into black communities during relocation history, combining rhythms and beats of similar ethnic styles, and creating the blueprints on what rock would eventually become is highlighted in the documentary, “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” (2017).
Directors Catherine Bainbridge and Alfonso Maiorana showcase the influence and direct involvement of Native American culture planting the seeds of musical composition and evolution of the great artists, like the prominent focus on Link Wray, who made their careers and lives spotlighting the Indigenous footprints of rock history today. Native communities of the Southern tribes – Choctaw, Seminoles, Muscogee, etc. – have history of unionizing within Black communities to have tribal members of both Indigenous and African heritage. We see the establishment of both traditional drumming/vocal singing mix in with the prominent folk lyricism/instrumental playing blend into the formation of what Delta blues would become; Charley Patton was a mixed Choctaw man who inspired the next generations of Blues musicians that followed after – Muddy Waters and Chester “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett were men who looked up to him as idol. The Blues evolution made it’s way into the urban sphere with talents who raised the awareness of Native empowerment and history or those of Indigenous connections that would shake up and stir crowds with vibrations of music and power unsung and unseen before. We see the emergence of artist like Jesse Ed Davis, Robbie Robertson, bands like Redbone and Link Wray and His Ray Men, all developing and evolving the hard-hitting and magnifying styles of rock that’d come to influence and collab with international talents and world acclaim. The filmmaking and editing on display with the archival footage mixed with the on-location shoots and talking head interviews of these amazing talents and their recordings shows a high level of professional documentarian approach that very much plays and flows smoothly with the depictions and showcasing of knowledge and individuals that have so much to say and relate – you never once feel unmoved or left unimpressed by anyone on screen here. The presentation of chaptering each decade with one prominent Indigenous artist that made waves is such a clever editing device that definitely makes the impact of each individual profiled stand out and shine in their archival/retrospective tribute(s). There’s a sense of grander purpose to each scene after scene of historical context and 1st hand experience with the people who are involved directly or indirectly with the subjects and history of the background development of these artists and great influencers of pioneered music we love today. The production is crafted greatly to steadily carry and utilize every piece of footage and needle drops relating and showcasing the talent profiled. Even the support of artists like Johnny Cash and Martin Scorsese have proved that the outreach and overwhelming support of this modern era of Native American renaissance can be felt and breathed new life into the rock genre cultivated from the beginning. If there was a time in which a snapshot look into the vast and deeply ingrained fusing of culture and art with the, the filmmakers have created a window into the world of Indigenous musicians that have carved their mark and pathed the road for greatness. “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” (2017) is a treat and perfect companion piece for the music and influence of what Native American artistry has achieved in the culture, history, and music that we love to rock our socks off.