Black Music Month

June is African American Music Appreciation Month. It’s a mouthful. And the decades
of music created for and by Black musicians could never be exhausted. It is the
backdrop for millions of people’s everyday lives—not just Black folks. Whether it’s the
background for movies or the sound that accompanies you at your local mall or grocery
store, Black music is arguably the music most played in America.
From Paul Roberson to Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin to Whitney Houston, the legacy
of Black-inspired music continues to dominate the airwaves. Even country music—the
genre most associated with White musicians—has been impacted by Black artists like
Charlie Pride, Linda Martell, Lil Nas, and most recently, Beyonce.
Rooted in spiritual life, the earliest form of black musical expression became known as
Gospel music. Based on Christian doctrine and mixed with African musical styles, it
eventually became a mainstream genre. It began during slavery. Black people often
turned to Gospel music to get them through the harshness of forced labor, physical
punishment and humiliation by slave owners. Through music they bonded, and their
shared experience was made more tolerable.
It became for many, a soothing salve to wipe away the pain, and inspire trust in a God
who would deliver them as Moses delivered his people to the Promised Land. Songs
like “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” spoke directly to the harsh realities of
slavery, and also carried hope for redemption: “Nobody knows but Jesus, nobody know
the trouble I’ve seen, Glory Hallelujah.”
The Blues came out of Gospel music, and became popular in the 1920s. It was less
religious. Lyrics focused on the struggles of financial hardship and love troubles
encountered as free people with limited resources. Around this same time, a new
musical genre called Jazz emerged. It began as pure music (no lyrics), and later
evolved to include singers—even singers who used their voices to imitate musical
instruments. It was a vocal technique called “scatting.” Ella Fitzgerald and Al Jarreau
are two of the greatest scatterers to ever grace the stage.
In the 1940s a new form of Blues emerged called Rhythm & Blues. It was more upbeat,
and perfectly made for dancing. It was also referred to as “soul music,” I imagine.
because it makes people feel good in their soul. Like gospel, soul music has healing
powers, it makes you sing, move, and smile. Funkadelic said it best in Knee Deep: “
Something about the music, she always makes me dance.”
The reach of Black music was officially recognized in 1979, when President Jimmy
Carter created Black Music Month. On Monday, June 9, the full spectrum of Black music

will be on display during the BET Awards 2025. The show has been going strong for
25 years. See your local TV listings for details.
I encourage you all to broaden your musical palette of Black artists and genres during
Black Music Month. Explore genres that you normally would not listen to. You never
know, you might just like it enough to put it on your playlist. Sample Gospel, R&B,
Blues, Jazz, Funk, Reggae, Neo Soul, and Hip Hop. You can never run out of choices.
Through connecting with Black music, you connect with Black culture. You connect with
your soul. It is truly a national treasure. Happy Black Music Month.