Black Music Matters

"The time is now. The children are witing for you to step up. Stop the propaganda and disinformation and show them how you will stand for justice and truth." Dr. Bernice King

How do songwriters get paid, and how do they get cheated? For years, black writers were kept from services that would help them receive their proper royalties. Yes, the same racism that affected the careers of black recording artists also affected black songwriters.

Since this is March, Women's History Month, it's a good time to honor some of the most highly influencial, yet barely recognized, black women who gave us Rock and Roll.

Black recording artists, who were once shut out of country music, are now helping shape the music's future, and I for one am very happy about that.

Racist or Integrator? Revolutionary or Copy Cat? What the 2 hour and 40 minute movie didn't cover.

He could have been crowned the King of Rock and Roll, and I don't think the man who was given that title would have objected, for in addition to Elvis never claiming that title for himself, he was a big fan of Jackie Wilson. And eventually they became good friends. The two were the most charismatic entertainers of their era.

King of the Jukebox, Father of R&B, Grandfather of Rock & Roll, all three titles bestowed upon one man, Louis Jordan, the most successful black recording artist of the 1940s.

June if African American Music Appreciation Month Racism and segregation once kept the most innovative and exciting music from being played on major radio stations and from being sold in most record stores, but the music not only survived - it thrived.

Rose Marie McCoy overcame racism, sexism, and poverty to become one of the most prolific and diverse songwriters of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. Her songwriting career is one of the longest ever; her first song was recorded in 1947 and her last in 2013. "I don't know of any other songwriter with the kind of track record Rose Marie McCoy has," said Al Bell, former owner off Stax Records and past president of Motown Records Group. "Her songs have been recorded by so many legendary artists in such a diversity of styles: blues, jazz, rock, rhythm & blues, country, pop, gospel. It's mind boggling what she has done." So here's Rose telling a bit of her story, singing a little, and describing how she operated as an independent songwriter back in the day.

All popular music known around the world as American music has roots in Africa.

New Podcast Episode

When West Africans were forced to leave their land in order to help create wealth in a strange and distant land, they left so much behind. But not all could be taken from them. Not their music and not their dance. Ever since emancipation, American created social dances have been influenced by African dance. From the Fox Trot to Break Dancing and many styles in between, you'll find African influence.