Black History Month Spotlight

Black History Month Spotlight: Soul Man

Black History Month Spotlight: Soul Man

By on February 27th, 2009

I am a soul man. Not many twenty-something, white guys from rural western Pennyslvania can lay claim to that title, but I do. Soul is the music I grew up on. Even as an infant, the radio in my family’s car was always dialed in to the oldies. While my nursery school friends were being [...]

Black History Month Spotlight: Chuck, Richard, and Some Guy Named Jimi

Black History Month Spotlight: Chuck, Richard, and Some Guy Named Jimi

By on February 25th, 2009

When my editor asked me to write a piece about black musicians and their influence on rock and roll, I advised myself to use caution. Don’t let me do it, I thought to myself. Don’t let me fall into the trap. He wants an article on all the innovative black artists who helped to shape [...]

Black History Month Spotlight: All That Jazz

Black History Month Spotlight: All That Jazz

By on February 24th, 2009

Much like yesterday’s spotlight, Matt Melis continues to celebrate Black History Month, talking today about the pretty awesome history in jazz. Stick around folks, tomorrow will be a new genre, as will Thursday and Friday. He’s hitting ‘em all, and considering he’s spent a great deal of time on ‘em, I recommend you comment away! [...]

Black History Month Spotlight: Something about the Blues

Black History Month Spotlight: Something about the Blues

By on February 23rd, 2009

Feel so bad, feel so sad, feel so glad? Blues music has always had a mysterious therapeutic quality about it. How can sad expression-being down in the dumps-bring such comfort, and even joy at times, to listeners? What is it about those chord progressions, those blue notes, and those call-and-response patterns of field songs and [...]