Payn's Ponderings Black History Month Music Edition

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Maybe all 50 of these musicians have already been listed, but I will share this anyway:

50 most important African American music artists of all time

In celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month.

www.cleveland.com

 

[CleverNickName]

I don't know if Charley Pride as been mentioned yet, but he should be on the list. He was the first (and most) successful black singer and songwriter on the Country & Western charts...a genre of music that at the time (the 1960s and 1970s) was absolutely dominated by white artists. He's one of only three African American members of the Grand Ole Opry, he won four Grammys, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, and won the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pretty awesome.

 

[Tonguez]

Surprised Smokey Robinson hasn’t been cited yet

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I don't know if Charley Pride as been mentioned yet, but he should be on the list.

Speaking of Country music, it seems like there was an explosion of new black artists last year. Here are 12 of them:

12 Black artists shaping country music’s future

These 12 artists have all been drawn to Nashville, embracing the traditions of country music while shaping its future.

www.tennessean.com

He's one of only three African American members of the Grand Ole Opry

And on the Opry, it looks like a Black Opry was founded last year as well. I just hope the Grand Ole Opry does not use it as an excuse for not having more black members.

Country Music Almanac 2022: The Black Opry Makes Vital Space for BIPOC Artists

Talking with Black Opry founder Holly G and artists Roberta Lea and Aaron Vance

www.nashvillescene.com

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

yeah Skunk Anansie is a British band
For American 90s rock my nephew introduced me to Killswitch Engage and there lead Howard Jones

And Lajon Witherspoon from Sevendust is another impressive metal vocalist.

 

[Malmuria]

ATaliens is my favorite hip hop record! It’s so dark, and deep, and introspective

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Martha Wash should have been more than a musical footnote:

TikTok reveals little-known truth behind popular '90s song: 'Without bigotry she’d be a blockbuster superstar'

The singer behind numerous Top 40 hits has rarely gotten credit.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Here’s a couple of documentaries about black musicians:

'Summer of Soul,' Questlove’s Scorching New Documentary About the Long-Lost ‘Black Woodstock’ Is Now on Hulu

Electric Purgatory: The Fate of the Black Rocker, PopMatters

Richard Penniman, aka Little Richard -- that wild-eyed Southern screamer from Macon, Georgia – has oft times described himself as “the architect of...

www.popmatters.com

I haven’t seen ?uestlove’s film, but the reviews and clips I’ve seen were fascinating.

Electric Purgatory blew my mind. I’m pretty educated about who did what in music, especially post-1950s stuff. But some of what was shown in this movie was completely new to me. Bands I never knew, songs I never heard, connections I never made.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Meanwhile…

24-7 Spyz
TV On The Radio
Radkey
Unlocking The Truth

I have only seen UTT in YT vids. In January 2020, it was announced the band had ended and frontman Malcolm Brickhouse would be pursuing a solo career under the moniker Malxolm Brixkhouse. Here’s their last street busking gig before they broke:

 

[payn]

So The Current is taking weekend off, but I wont!

2/5 Thelonious Monk
Piano has always been one of my favorite instruments. I really like players that stand out like Monk. Improv artist are very intriguing and Monk was also one of the best in this area. Enjoy some of Monk's Dream.