Thu 6/17 @ 7PM
In a way, every month is Black History Month for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, since so much of its roots come from black music. And one of their current exhibits It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment, put together by the Rock Hall’s chief curator Nwaka Onwusa, speaks to how black musicians have used their voices to advocate for racial justice.
But it’s added a couple of things, such as its Voices in Conversation program “Reckoning & Requiem: LaVern Baker & Cultural Appropriation.” The suave & sassy singer had numerous hits on the R&B charts in the 50s, but her first big hit, “Tweedle Dee” in 1955, fell prey to a syndrome that plagued black singers in the 50s: it was covered virtually note for note by a white singer, Georgia Gibbs, who took it to the top of the pop chart. Still she had a number of top 20 pop hits including “I Cried a Tear,” “I Waited Too Long” and “Jim Dandy,” (yes, the same song covered by Black Oak Arkansas in the early 70s).
Onwasa will lead the conversation, along with author/songwriter Alice Randall. Participants include Americana singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash, Siedah Garrett who worked with Michael Jackson including co-writing his single “Man in the Mirror,” country singer/songwriter/producer Margo Price, and eclectic roots singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell who recently released her solo debut album. You can listen for free on the Rock Hall’s Facebook page.