PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Black Music Month kicks off this weekend with the Roots Picnic, hosted by Philly’s legendary Roots Crew, but if you didn’t get tickets, you can still keep the celebration going all month long at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and Dyana Williams came up with the idea of setting a month aside to celebrate Black music in 1979. On June 7 of that same year, President Jimmy Carter hosted a reception to “formally recognize the cultural and financial contributions of Black music,” according to the National Museum of African American Music.
Since then, the month has grown from small celebrations to national, with events right here in Philadelphia.
“The Philadelphia sound holds a very, very special place in the narrative of American music. And so we’re very fortunate to be in a city with such a musical history and background,” said Christopher Miller, executive vice president of the African American Museum of Philadelphia.
He says Black music has been at the cornerstone of nearly every music genre — “the origin of the banjo, for example, resides in the hands of those who were enslaved Africans. The original architects of rock ‘n’ roll reside with Black music. Think about jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, bebop, pop, hip hop, gospel and more.”
Miller says Philly’s signature lush, orchestral soul music gives the city a reputation that sets it apart, which you can learn about this month at the African American Museum in Center City, beginning a Rhythms of Liberation series on June 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
There, Miller says Black music will be showcased across different genres, helping to represent its wide-ranging characteristics.
“You’re able to have those various touchpoints from struggle to joy. And then also to have a consciousness about the social condition of America through the lens of the Black experience,” he said.
On June 19, there will be a Juneteenth Block Party with music and free admission to the museum. Registration prior to the event is encouraged.
For more information on events and registration, click here.