A Brief History of African-American Music Appreciation Month
Black music is a symbol of strength, perseverance, and triumph. From its resilience in the face of atrocities to its vibrance today, Black music continues to shape our world and cultures in more ways than one.
Initially proposed in 1979 as Black Music Month, the month of June was meant to celebrate Black artists’ contributions to American music. At the time, President Jimmy Carter wanted the public to recognize the impact Black music had, not only in the United States but abroad too, as people were incorporating elements from it to color their own songbooks.
While June was then assigned as Black Music Month, President Carter did not sign a presidential proclamation to make it official. Dyana Williams, a renowned journalist attempted to rectify the oversight in 1998, by lobbying for official legislation and proclamation alongside Congressman Chaka Fattah. Thanks to their joint effort, in the year 2000, June was officially declared as Black Music Month; later changed to African-American Music Month by President Barack Obama.
Groundbreaking African-American Artists
At MOZIK, we never miss a chance to celebrate music! Join us as we honor African-American Music Appreciation month by highlighting the artists that paved the way for generations of musicians across all races, creeds, colors, religions, sexual orientations, and identities.
Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson was the personification of African-American music’s tenacity and perseverance. A contralto, Marian Anderson was the first black musician to perform as a member of the New York Metropolitan Opera. She was also the first Black woman to perform at the White House.
Louis Armstrong
Legendary Louis Armstrong is considered the one of the most influential trumpeter’s in music history and widely credited as developing Jazz into the fine art it’s recognized as today. As a black man, Louis Armstrong achieved mainstream popularity amongst white audiences at a time when doing so seemed impossible.
Jimi Hendrix
A magician with the electric guitar, Hendrix is accredited with shaping Rock and Blues music as a whole. Even though his career spanned only four years, he remains one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century; with his compositions, techniques, and play style influencing several aspects of multiple genres till date.
Prince
Prince was a seven-time grammy winner and an icon. Having sold over 150 million records worldwide, Prince is one of the highest selling artists in the history of music. He’s often remembered for his creativity, boldness, and flair — both in his music and the way he carried himself.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was a musical prodigy ever since the age of 10, when he taught himself how to play harmonica, piano, and drums. With over 100 million records sold and 22 Grammys won, Stevie Wonder single-handedly changed RnB music forever. Stevie Wonder has been inducted in the R&B, songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson “The King of Pop” had an illustrious career from the age of 5 with the Jackson 5. He never looked back after that, and became synonymous with the term “entertainer.” His most notable achievement came after he released “Thriller”, an album that remains one of the highest-selling records in all of music history. Michael Jackson was a once in a generation artist and a man who could do it all: from singing to composing to dancing.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin was a singer, songwriter, and pianist and the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Listed in Rolling Stones’ top 100 singers of all time list, Aretha Franklin gained massive commercial success over her career and won 18 Grammy awards.
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is widely considered one of the greatest rap artists alive today. His crown jewel, To Pimp a Butterfly, an album that reflects on the stark injustices Black people face in America is regarded as a top 20 album of all time by Rolling Stone. And his most recent album, DAMN, earned him a Pulitzer Prize, making him the first-ever hip-hop artist to win the award.
A symbol of hope and unity, African-American music spans across a number of genres. From Jazz to Blues to Rock and Hip-Hop, these art forms have redefined music and our cultural landscape as a whole. Truly, the impact of African-American music and its artists cannot be overstated.
MOZIK Honors African-American Music Appreciation Month with The Wooten Brothers!
At MOZIK, we’re delighted to be able to celebrate African-American music with two iconic artists: Joseph Wooten and Roy ”Futureman” Wooten. Both the brothers are releasing exclusive NFTs on the MOZIK platform in June. With never heard before tracks, backstage passes, and one-of-a-kind art, this is your chance to own a piece of Black Music history through the blockchain!
