Scheduled to open in Downtown Nashville in Summer 2020, the National museum of African American Music will be a 56,000-square-foot facility that will encourage visitors to discover the many connections and influences that composers have had on all genres of music. From classical to country to jazz and hip hop, NMAAM will integrate history and interactive technology to share the untold story of more than 50 music genres and subgenres. It will be an unparalleled institution, not confined by record label, genre or recording artist, but instead will tell a unique narrative through the lens of black music.
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Find out the latest buzzworthy news about African American music, recording artists, historical anniversaries and more!
Word is Bond: NMAAM’s The Message Gallery
As the youngest musical genre to arise from the Black experience in America, hip-hop simultaneously embodies the history and influence of its predecessors while keeping its eye trained on the new and the now, and its finger on the pulse of the next. NMAAM’s The...
The Music of the Movement: NMAAM’s One Nation Under a Groove Gallery
Building on the foundation laid by early purveyors of gospel, blues, and jazz, rhythm and blues emerged in the years immediately following the end of WWII and signaled the dawn of a new cultural era for African Americans and the country at large. R&B, as the genre...
Black and Blue Notes: NMAAM’s A Love Supreme Gallery
A quintessential African American art form, jazz is among the most beloved and celebrated musical genres in the world. NMAAM’s A Love Supreme gallery, named for John Coltrane’s masterpiece, pays tribute to some of jazz’s greatest artists, legendary compositions, and...
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Listen to more of what’s happening in the world of African American music by visiting our Spotify channel.
Black Music Month began in 1979 when Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and Dyana Williams developed the idea to set aside a month dedicated to celebrating the impact of black music. Created by music business insiders, the group successfully lobbied President Jimmy Carter to host a reception on June 7th, 1979 to formally recognize the cultural and financial contributions of black music. Since 1979, Black Music Month has grown from a small commemoration to national proportions with events held annually across the country.
NMAAM is excited to announce our partnership with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, whose recent $15,000 donation will ensure the continued success of the museum’s educational programs.
