Black Music Month - June
>> Wednesday, June 2, 2010
In 1979, President Carter announced that the month of June would be Black Music month. About 23 years later in 2002, President Bush continued to proclaim June as the month to celebrate Black music. Black music is a great part of our American Heritage and it will be highlighted all month with events educating citizens about the various forms of black music.
Black churches have been the source of musical inspiration. Parts of the blues and negro spirituals evolved into gospel music. Mahalia Jackson, known as the world's greatest gospel singer, performed at the inauguration of President Kennedy as well as the funeral of Rev. Martin Luther King. Gospel music had an effect on rhytm and blues (R&B) and soul. Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke were both children of preachers who used gospel tones in their music styles.
Black music influences also spread into jazz, rock and the music that we have today. It's a rich part of our nation's way of life and enjoyed by many.
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