#aamam

MUSIC MONDAY: “Where I’m From” – A Free-Wheeling Celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month 2021 (LISTEN)

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest) Happy Monday again, you all. Well, it is always African American Music Appreciation Month (aka Black Music Month) around these parts! We celebrate Black music every week here at Good Black News. It’s been more than a year since I started making weekly playlists honoring African American music in its many…

So yes, first of all, as many have posted already, Happy Pride, everyone!

But I wanted to bring to your attention a lesser-known - and longer-lived - theme for June: African American Music Appreciation Month.

African American music - be it spirituals, the blues, jazz, rock n roll - shaped an entire century-plus of American history. It influenced so many other genres of music and is an important cultural legacy. The month of June was designated a “Black Music Month” by President Jimmy Carter in 1967, after lobbying by Philadelphians Dyana Williams and Kenny Gamble. The House of Reps formerly recognized it in 200 with Resolution 509, and President Obama officially renamed it in 2009 as “African American Music Appreciation Month.”

So this month, wave those rainbow flags, but also be sure to show your love to amazing African American musicians! I recently discovered Classical composer Florence Price and am enthralled with her music :) And lord knows I’ll be playing my favorites from Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong!

#AAMAM: “Black and Proud” – Celebrating Black LGBT Musical Pioneers (LISTEN)

by Jeff Meier (FB: Jeff.Meier.90)

As June is both African-American Music Appreciation Month and Pride Month, and today is the anniversary of the beginning of the landmark Stonewall Riots marking the unofficial launch of the gay rights movement, Good Black News today brings you a musical playlist celebrating some of the Black LGBT musical pioneers of the contemporary music era.

Just last year,…

#AAMAM: “Sign O’ The Times” – Celebrating Prince and his Protest Music (LISTEN)

We wanted to get this post up earlier, but today? Server issues. Thankfully, those are resolved and Good Black News is happy to grab a moment during African American Music Appreciation Month to honor what would have been the 62nd birthday of the one and only Prince.

His music is legendary, no question, and we could offer a playlist full of his genius output that could keep your ears busy into the…