by NMAAM | May 13, 2021 | Blog
“He was a giant!,” said Butch Spyridon. “He was a hero!,” said Kevin Lavender. These are among the first words that these men shared when we discussed Ben Rechter’s passing. But that’s not all; in his departure, the family has lost a beloved brother and father, our...
by nmaam | Apr 29, 2021 | Blog
We here at NMAAM are truly saddened to hear about the loss of Sen. Thelma Harper. She was a trailblazer and an avid supporter of NMAAM from its inception more than 20 years ago. She was so invested in the historical and cultural importance of this museum that she was...
by NMAAM Staff | Apr 9, 2021 | Blog
The National Museum of African American Music had a very special edition of our My Music Matters Artist Chat series. We sat down with the talent behind Hulu’s original film, ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday,’ which premiered on Feb. 26. We had...
by NMAAM Staff | Apr 9, 2021 | Blog
NMAAM’s Sips & Stanzas paid tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, with R.E.S.P.E.C.T. HERSTORY: The Genius of Aretha Franklin. We went behind the scenes with Emmy Award winner Patrice Covington and Drama Desk and GRAMMY Award winner Rebecca Naomi...
by NMAAM Staff | Apr 9, 2021 | Blog
Recording artists Naimah and Lydia Caesar joined us for a My Music Matters Artist Chat. We got to know more about these prolific singer/songwriters, discussed their new projects, and learned how they use their platforms as musicians to amplify women and women’s...
by NMAAM | Mar 26, 2021 | Blog
Women account for around 20% of the music industry, and only about 2% of women in music are producers. Black women make up less than 1% of that 2%, according to a 2020 LA Times article. That 1%, of course, includes artists like Missy Elliott, who is as acclaimed for...
by NMAAM | Mar 19, 2021 | Blog
“Last night, a DJ saved my life.” At some point in all our lives, we’ve experienced what that phrase means. Whether on a dance floor or driving with the windows down and the radio blasting, that feeling of having the perfect song hit at the perfect moment is a...
by NMAAM | Mar 12, 2021 | Blog
As we continue our celebration of Women’s History Month, NMAAM is setting our sights on the dance floor, where Black women have long been the unsung sheroes of the scene. With disco’s flashing lights fading to black, a new wave of artists and DJs surfaced to salvage...
by NMAAM | Mar 5, 2021 | Blog
March is Women’s History Month, and NMAAM is celebrating Black women’s contributions to music, culture, and social justice. Make no mistake–the National Museum of African American Music does this year round, just as we do with all aspects of Black music...
by NMAAM Staff | Mar 2, 2021 | Blog
The National Museum of African American Music had a very special edition of our My Music Matters Artist Chat series. We sat down with the talent behind Hulu’s original film, ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday,’ which premiered on Feb. 26. We had...
