The Overlooked Face Behind The Voice: Ma Rainey

Blues is at the epicenter of almost all American Music that we hear. This genre has created a blueprint or guide for the artists and sounds that we hear today. One person who was extremely influential to the Blues genre, and who we can give thanks to for some of our favorite songs is Ma […]

TLC

TLC: The Women With No Scrubs Previous Next TLC, which stands for T-Boz, Left-Eye, and Chili, is an African American girl group who has set high standards for girl groups because of their talent and sound. Artist History Tionne Tenese Watkins was born on April 26, 1970 to James Watkins and Gayle Watkins, in Des […]

Jazz: Influence of Jazz on Music

JAZZ HISTORY OF JAZZ Like many genres and styles, Jazz has had its tough and intricate beginnings in the world of music. There are several things that have played in the development of Jazz such as geographic location or the time period. Jazz developed in the early 20th century with a heavy emphasis from African […]

Praise His Name: A Gospel Post

Keeping the Clark Sisters Legend Alive The Clark SistersPictured here are the legendary Clark SistersThe Clark Sheard FamilyPictured here is the Clark-Sheard FamilyKierra SheardPictured here is Kierra Sheard, daughter and niece of The Clark Sisters. Previous Next Gospel Music is a genre of music rooted in spiritual beliefs and experiences. The Gospel music originated in […]

TLC Artist Sources

TLC Bibliography by Sharadiant Turner Works Cited III, Charles Stone, director. CrazySexyCool. n.d..    23, Beyonce KnowlesUpdated December, and Beyonce Knowles. “Beyonce Knowles Remembers Lisa ”Left Eye” Lopes.” EW.com, ew.com/article/2002/12/23/beyonce-knowles-remembers-lisa-left-eye-lopes/.   Zhong, Michelle. “TLC (1991- ) •.” •, 2 June 2020, ttp://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/tlc-1991/.    “TLC: Biography & History.” AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/artist/tlc-mn0000007689/biography.  Krulik, Nancy E. Lisa Lopes: the Life of a Supernova. […]

Perseverence: Chaka Khan

Perseverence: Chaka Khan Early Life Yvette Marie “Chaka Khan” Stevens was born on March 23, 1953 to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman in Chicago, Illinois. She was introduced to jazz much as child by her grandmother, and later became interested in R&B as teenager.    She joined the artist side at age eleven by forming […]

Keke Wyatt

Keke Wyatt: Renowned Voice without Recognition Early Life & Beginnings Ke’Tara Shavon “Keke” Wyatt was born on March 10, 1982, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Consisting of four brothers, she was born into a family with a deep adoration for Gospel and religious music.  Keke began singing at the young age of 2, having her first showcase […]

Undercover Disco Superstar: Diana Ross

Diana Ross and her Disco Comeback ‘Herstory’ Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born on March 26, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan. Fun Fact: She was actually named Diane but there was a clerical error resulting her name being printed as Diana. At fifteen, Diana joined the Primettes, which quickly gained attraction locally. This led to Diana […]

Jubilee Quartets

Emergence and Rise of Jubilee Quartets Jubilee Quartets consist of at least four harmonious voices. They emerged around the 1800s, with a specific type called University Jubilee Quartet, founded by the American Missionary Association. These groups shared a common trend of singing to fundraise for their institutions to remain open.   A well known subsidiary […]

Negro Spirituals

The Importance of Negro Spirituals on Society In the late 1800s, slavery was very prevalent in the South and in some parts of the North. Stolen from their own native land, African Americans were forced into the norms of their captors, and in turn had to combine their traditions from their homeland with their experiences […]

Lianne La Havas Introduction to Folk

Lianne La Havas Introduction When looking back on women of color in folk music like Odetta, Joan Baez, Elizabeth Cotten, Mimi Farina, and Joan Armatrading, it is clear their influence has shaped folk music today, especially for female folk artists in 2016.   The lack of Black women, let alone Black people in general, in […]