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Jennifer Brown Banks
Top Chicago Vocalists to be Showcased For Black Music Month in June
2021-06-24
Black music speaks a universal language.
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There's no denying the African-American influence on our culture and on the music scene throughout history. From gospel songs of spiritual worship throughout the decades, to soulful sounds we sing a long to on our car radios, to wedding ceremony playlists, to the ever-popular "slide" songs.
Black music speaks a universal language that resonates with millions; regardless of race, creed or color. Statisa.com reports that "As of June 2019, 68 percent of adults aged between 18 and 34 years old reported listening to music every day, and the majority of their older peers also enjoyed music with the same regularity."
THE ORIGINS OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH...
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Black Music Month was established by former president, Jimmy Carter in 1979, and celebrates the African American musical influences that represent an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage.
According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture: " African American musicians and artists have also developed and influenced classical music traditions, country and western music, pop music, and dance music such as disco, techno and house, among other genres and styles. Millions of people around the globe listen to and are touched by music that carries elements of African American musical traditions."
WHAT IS BLACK MUSIC?Wikipedia shares the following descriptor: "Many genres of music originate from communities that have visible roots in Africa. In North America, it was a way that the early slaves could express themselves and communicate when they were being forcibly relocated and when there were restrictions on what cultural activities they could pursue. In a time where their world was being turned upside down, music served as an escape and form of communication/expression for early black communities. The ability of music to act as a binding factor provides all cultures with a strong sense of connectivity. In this sense, black music does not just encompass sounds of the U.S. black experience but also a global black experience that stretches from Africa to Americas. The sounds of the black diaspora represent an almagamation of different black experiences. It uplifts the sense of community that is built under the black identity, while also representing the complexities that exist within blackness due to differences in geography, nationality, gender, class, and sex." CONNECTIVITY BEYOND COLOR...Black music has been enjoyed by, "borrowed" from, and has shaped other races of musical artists and musical genres from different eras. BLACK MUSIC MONTH CELEBRATIONOverflow After Dark, a music series, will round out Black Music Month featuring top Chicago vocalists D. Lylez a former contestant from NBC’s The Voice and Sharon Irving from NBC’s America’s Got Talent, in addition to Billboard Top 20 Artist Jessica Love as Emcee. The event will take place on Saturday, June 26th (7pm-9 pm ) in the former building of historically acclaimed Vee-Jay Records. Ticket Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door.Final ThoughtThough Black Music Month is officially celebrated each June, Black Music Month to those of us who love it is undeniably every month.
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