Music Discovery: Big Joanie, ‘In My Arms’
“To no longer be the only Black musicians in a group meant there was no need to code-switch – we could be our full selves.”
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, a tradition that, as NPR reports, “aims to honor the contributions that African Americans have made and to recognize their sacrifices.” “There is no American history without African American history,” says Sara Clarke Kaplan, executive director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University in Washington, D.C.
During February, The Colorado Sound continues to highlight Black artists, songs, and music history. Listen for special episodes of Music 101, and watch our Music Discovery series for artist spotlights.
In addition, our sister station KUNC has a roundup of Colorado events celebrating Black History Month.
With ’45 Jukebox,’ Chris Pierce electrifies the creative process
Where Pierce’s previous album, 2021’s American Silence, was an acoustic folk and blues album, “45 Jukebox” is unabashedly electric.
Discover Danielle Ponder’s new song ‘The Only Way Out’
Ponder’s voice hints at vintage Memphis soul, but the song is contemporary, fresh, and taking us to new, uncharted territory. Watch the music video.
The debut of ‘Omar,’ a thoroughly American opera
“I guess I look for overlooked stories to tell,” says creator Rhiannon Giddens.
Meet Sylvia Robinson, hit songwriter, producer, and ‘the Mother of Hip-Hop’
Sylvia Robinson was the producer behind some of early hip-hop’s most iconic songs.
Buffalo Nichols: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
In a sparse, dimly lit Austin office building, Carl “Buffalo” Nichols stands in front of the mic stand with his steel guitar.
1971 And Black Music In Revolt
Some artists, like many activists, were no longer invested in presenting their demands with the elixirs of decorum and civility.
Music 101: Civil Rights part 2
February is Black History Month in the U.S., and this week Music 101 takes another look at the music of the Civil Rights movement.
For Black musicians, ‘Insecure’ created a new world of possibilities
HBO’s Insecure not only identified a shift in Black music over the last five years, it helped distinguish it.
Music 101: songs of the Civil Rights movement
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Music 101 explores the music of the Civil Rights movement.
How Black women reclaimed country and Americana music in 2021: NPR
Highlighting the impact of artists such as Allison Russell, Adia Victoria, Amythyst Kiah, Valerie June, and Yola.
Watch Neffy’s Tiny Desk Concert
Neffy is the 2021 winner of NPR Music’s recent Tiny Desk Contest and the first artist to perform at the actual ‘tiny desk’ since the pandemic.
