Come Celebrate Black Music Month

Motown Maurice and Wide aWoke Wednesdays Supports Black Music June 17

Please join me on Wednesday, June 17 at the USF Alumni Center Traditions Hall as I, Motown Maurice, as I pay tribute to the extraordinary talents, achievements, and creativity of African American singers, musicians, composers, performers who have enriched our lives and culture. In further celebration, join me and some of Tampa’s most talented performers participate in our special Wide aWoke Wednesday’s show as we celebrate Black Music Month and the 2^nd anniversary of our show. 

Music is, perhaps, the most powerful tools I use to get me through life’s sometimes unstoppable journey. This is why I stress the importance of paying my respect to those pioneers responsible for creating Black Music. Black Music, in my opinion, has been a significant contributor and immensely strong influence on American music. 

The original African Americans were ritually enslaved and reluctantly transported across the Atlantic to horrific lives of involuntary servitude. For over 300 years Black Americans could not participate in government or any other contributory community activities but they were quick to adapt their native culture to the dominant Christian doctrine as well as church music.

Church-going slaves who converted to Christianity of the 17th and 18th centuries would repeat-often in call-and-response fashion, the hymns and psalms sung by the service leader. This organized and inspiring religious practice spurred the “Negro spiritual,” often called a “jubilee.” Among the most beloved spirituals were “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Roll Jordan Roll.”

By the beginning of the 20th century, the remnants of post civil war African-American music evolved into new a form of music known as ragtime, a popular genre that later inspired the formation of jazz music.

By 1930, elements of the blues and old Negro spirituals were crystallizing into gospel music. Gospel had a direct impact on more secular forms of Black Music such as rhythm and blues (R & B) and soul.  For generations, Black Music has communicated across racial boundaries and expressed both joy and sorrow. When facing the scathing cruelties of slavery and injustice, African Americans lifted spirituals to the heavens, bringing comfort to troubled souls yearning for spiritual salvation. Black Music is an important element of our survival. It’s a lifeline- it’s the air we breathe and an indomitable source of our spiritual strength.

As a result, I invite you to join us on June 17 and, together, we’ll  show respect to all the musicians past and present who have paved the way for us. Hope to see you there!

Motown Maurice

Wide aWoke Wednesdays