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Black Music Month

Black Music Appreciation Month is an annual celebration of African-American music in the United States. It was initiated as Black Music Month by President Jimmy Carter who, on June 7, 1979, decreed that June would be the month of Black music.

In 2009, the commemoration was given its current name by President Barack Obama. In his 2016 proclamation, Obama noted that African-American music and musicians have helped the country "to dance, to express our faith through song, to march against injustice, and to defend our country's enduring promise of freedom and opportunity for all".

There are 12 total persons in this view.

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
King of Pop

Music

Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. Called the "King of Pop", his contributions to music and dance, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture.

Collections: Black Music Month

Biography Events Profiles

Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
4-Time Grammy Award Winner

Music

Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are currently a trio composed of baritone Nathan Morris, alongside tenors Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman.

Collections: Black Music Month

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Sounds of Blackness
Sounds of Blackness
3-Time Grammy Award Winner and Emmy Award Nominee

Music

Sounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award winning vocal and instrumental ensemble from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota who perform music from several genres music including gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz.

Collections: Black Music Month

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The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang
Grammy Hall of Fame Winner

Music

The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip-hop group, known mostly for its 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight", the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song uses an interpolation of the instrumental track from the hit "Good Times".

Collections: Black Music Month

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Photo Credit: Shefik

Melba Moore
Tony Award Winner and 4-Time Grammy Award Nominee

Music

Melba Moore is a prolific 5-octave singer and Broadway actress. In addition to a Tony Award and 4 Grammy Award nominations, her music relevance brought many other accolades. After a 5-decade career, she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Collections: Black Music Month

Tags: Broadway · Tony Award Winner · Grammy Award Nominee · Musical · Actress · Freddie Jackson · Newark, New Jersey · Billboard · Singer · CBS

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Photo Credit: Shefik

Sonny Turner
Former Lead Singer, The Platters

Music

Sonny Turner is best known for replacing Tony Williams as lead singer of The Platters. The group had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including four no. 1 hits, and were, for a period of time, the most successful vocal group in the world.

Collections: Black Music Month

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Photo Credit: Shefik

Dionne Warwick
Kennedy Center Honoree, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, and 5-Time Grammy Award Winner

Music

Dionne Warwick is a 5-time Grammy Award winning legend. She is an American singer, actress, and television show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health.

Collections: Black Music Month

Tags: Grammy Award Winner · Kennedy Center Honoree · Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner · Cissy Houston · Whitney Houston · The Drinkard Singers · Burt Bacharach · University of Hartford · Actress · Television Host

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Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
6-Time Grammy Award Winner and Inductee, Rock an Roll Hall of Fame

Music

In 2009, Guinness World Records cited Whitney Houston her as the most awarded female act of all time. She is one of pop music's best-selling music artists of all-time, with an estimated 170 - 200 million records sold worldwide.

Collections: Black Music Month

Tags: Arista Records · Clive Davis · Grammy Award Winner · Rock and Roll Hall of Fame · Bobby Brown · The Voice · Singer · MTV Video Music Award Winner · Billboard Music Award Winner · NAACP Image Award Winner

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Photo Credit: Shefik

Sarah Dash
Member, Keith Richards & The X-Pensive Winos; Member, Labelle; Member, Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles

Music

Sarah Dash's first notable appearance was as a member of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles. Dash has had a full career, moving from singer, to songwriter and session musician for famous bands that include Labelle, The Rolling Stones, and Keith Richards.

Collections: Black Music Month

Tags: Keith Richards & The X-Pensive Winos · Labelle · Patti LaBelle · Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles · Keith Richards · The Rolling Stones · Nona Hendryx · Singer · Trenton, New Jersey · Lady Marmalade

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Della Reese
Della Reese
3-Time Grammy Award Nominee

Music

Della Reese is an American nightclub, jazz, gospel and pop singer, film and television actress, one-time talk-show hostess and ordained minister, whose career had spanned six decades. She had also appeared as a guest on several talk shows.

Collections: Black Music Month

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The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters
2-Time Grammy Award Winner

Music

The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise Clark Bradford, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. The Clark Sisters have won three Grammy Awards.

Collections: Black Music Month

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Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey
Mother of the Blues

Music

Ma Rainey was one of the earliest African-American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of blues singers to record. The "Mother of the Blues", she bridged earlier vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues.

Collections: Black Music Month

Biography Events Profiles

There are 12 total persons in this view.