“The Martin Luther King of Music”
Bandleader, composer, lieutenant, promoter, conductor, innovator, and legend are all words that represent the short life of this great pioneer and music enthusiast. James Reese Europe (1880-1919) played an important role in advancing the influence and acceptance of African American musicians throughout the United States while also serving as the catalyst in transforming Orchestral Ragtime…
Sean Kingston: Lost In Time
It feels like it has been forever since I’ve heard anything from Sean Kingston. At the peak of his career Sean had one of the most popular songs in the country at the time. And whether he’s still a topic of discussion in today’s age or not, you can definitely agree that the tracks that…
Nat King Cole: Unforgettable
Born March 17, 1919, Nathaniel Adams Cole, known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. He recorded over one hundred songs that became hits on the top charts. His trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed. Cole also acted in films and on television and performed on…
Antonio: Lightskin Wonder
I could go on and on about this up and coming New Orleans artist. Undoubtedly one of the most talented R&B artist to come out of the 504 to date. When his songs begin to play you’re immediately bombarded by a rhythmic sensation followed by soothing vocals. Antonio is not shy about his talents and…
Zulu Dances, Indlamu
This traditional dance is most often associated with Zulu culture. It is performed with drums and full traditional attire and is derived from the war dances of the warriors. This war dance is untouched by Western influence probably because it is regarded as a touchstone of Zulu identity. Full regimental attire, precise timing and uncompromised…
Marabi, the light of a developing city in South Africa
Marabi is a style of music that evolved in South Africa over the last century. The early part of the 20th century saw the increasing urbanisation of black South Africans in mining centers such as the gold mining area around Johannesburg – the Witwatersrand. This led to the development of township slums or ghettos, and…
Kwela, a meticulously musical style
Kwela, (Zulu: “get up” or “climb”) popular upbeat urban dance music of South Africa. Coined by Elkin Sithole in the 1940s to refer to choral response in Zulu vocal music, the term kwela had been broadened by the 1950s to refer to the music of street bands featuring the pennywhistle, who also performed at township dances. Subsequently one or two acoustic guitars and…
Twinkie Clark,A charming evangelical singer
When you listen to Twinkle Clark’s music, I can guarantee that you will be impressed by her sexy voice. Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark (born November 15, 1954) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, musician, and evangelist. Clark is best known as a member of the American gospel singing group the Clark Sisters. Clark has been called the…
The taste of this Mushroom soup will never change
When I searched for information about Hakuna Matata, I found the source of this word. In 1982, a band called Them Mushroom wrote a song written in Swahili. Hakuna Matata was used in it, but Interestingly, when I searched for the audio, I found a version with different lyrics but the same melody. I will…
Describe the way music is created, performed, and experienced in African and African American communities.
The beauty of African and African American music is that was created from our ancestors through all type of sources. Africans created their musical instruments through vegetable material. Whereas, African Americans created their music through hymns and spirituals. Music was created by older generations that continued to pass down music traditions to the younger generations.…
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Music By African Americans 