June Is African American Music Appreciation Month. Was Created By Pres. Jimmy Carter

OneEyedDiva

OneEyedDiva

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Throughout this thread I will be posting about African Americans whose influence touched me and so many worldwide, including Rock musicians like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. The following is information about the genres that influenced and were even the roots of music we grew up listening to and still listen to today. An excerpt from the article on the African American History & Culture Museum/Smithsonian site:
"June is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage." Continue reading:
Celebrating Black Music Month

Post the songs that moved you, made you move, inspired you and were your favorites. What Black artists did you really appreciate?
@Naturally
 

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No way! This is great. I think I knew about the "month" but I didn't know Jimmy Carter created it. That makes me happy about him and his admin.. As you know, if you have been playing popular music for awhile, I mean playing an instrument in a "band", you have to know the roots of our music go back a long way. So much of the American sound was started by very simple people 100's of years ago. So many of them were Black. From deferent genres also. The blues, Rock and Roll, Jazz, Soul, Rhythm and Blues, and so much more. There was Mo-Town, and the Black Elvis. Such a very rich history. :)

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Paco Dennis said:
No way! This is great. I think I knew about the "month" but I didn't know Jimmy Carter created it. That makes me happy about him and his admin.. As you know, if you have been playing popular music for awhile, I mean playing an instrument in a "band", you have to know the roots of our music go back a long way. So much of the American sound was started by very simple people 100's of years ago. So many of them were Black. From deferent genres also. The blues, Rock and Roll, Jazz, Soul, Rhythm and Blues, and so much more. There was Mo-Town, and the Black Elvis. Such a very rich history. :)

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Speaking of "Black Elvis", my husband and I attended an Al Sharpton event for artists who never got their just due from record companies. Michael Jackson spoke. We got there late and he was saying his last few words as we walked in. I met a woman who said her grandfather had written songs for Elvis Presley that were hits but her grandfather never got the compensation he deserved. Other artists who I had in my record collection were there as well. Love your thoughtful reply and that photo Paco❣️
 
When I first heard his version of Gypsy Woman, I fell in love with Joe Bataan's voice. I subsequently bought a couple of his albums. Known as the King of Latin Soul, he had the Latin thing sewn up. Looking at his pictures, you couldn't tell me he wasn't a Newyorican (New York Puerto Rican), as we called them. And no, it's not a derogatory term. Ramon Rodriquez, the adorable star of Will Trent, proudly called himself a Newyorican while being interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel recently.

Anyway Joe Bataan wasn't on the music scene for a while, so I looked him up. Turns out he's not Hispanic at all, but Black and Filipino! The icing on the cake was that he was still performing and would be appearing at a venue easily reachable from where we live. My husband and I went to his concert and were not disappointed.

We got a chance to talk with him and take pictures with him after the show. What a nice man! I also got an autographed picture (my favorite of him) which is the one used as the cover photo for this video. He's in the middle with the cap and gold shirt. There are more pictures of him throughout the video, even after the music ends. This is the first song I heard by Joe Bataan, aka Broadway Joe, causing me to become an instant fan.

 
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Great posts @CallMeKate @John cycling @Paco Dennis @Feelslikefar @officerripley @Pinky @MarkinPhx @Nathan @Jackie23. Thank you for your participation ❣️

Gospel music was and is the foundation for many Black artists. It's how many got their start...singing in churches. Sam Cooke was one of the many who started out singing gospel music. He was made to feel guilty about wanting to start singing secular music by his father who was a minister. But ultimately, Sam followed his heart and the rest is history. The first is one of my favorites by him. I love the second song too and have had the 45 for years. It's a Gospel song that I always thought Sam was leading. I found out from watching a documentary about him that Johnny Taylor, who wanted to emulate Sam while singing with The Soul Stirrers, is leading!


 
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Love this.
I came across Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the late 70s.
I later found out that she died in the early 70s.
There is no way can I remember the song that took my ear back then as a teenager.
I know I did research the song I heard and found out it was someone called Rosetta Tharpe.
Heavy on the Blues with a deal of spirituality. Her music makes one want to get up and swing those hips of ours.
Down By The Riverside - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
 
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