Wed 5/27 @ 8:30-10:30PM

Roots of American Music, the Northeast Ohio nonprofit whose mission is to use music as an educational tool, recently launched its Masters of American Music series, which combines musical performances and storytelling to offer portraits of influential American music pioneers. It takes place at Visible Voice Boks on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

This month, it’ll pay tribute to country blues singer/guitarist/songwriter Mississippi John Hurt (1892-1966). As the son of sharecroppers who were formerly slaves, he was self-taught and obscure, working as a sharecropper himself before being “rediscovered” during the folk music boom for the early 60s, which included white musicians’ “discovery” of Black blues. That gave him access to high profile venues such as the Newport Folk Festival and The Tonight Show, assuring that his music would become better known. His songs were then performed by many other artists including Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Taj Mahal, Beck and Gillian Welch.

The Roots of American Music program will be spearheaded by versatile Cleveland musician/songwriter/vocalist Ray Flanagan. He’ll be joined by special guest Mary Frances Hurt, Hurt’s granddaughter and founder/president of the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation, who’ll share stories about her grandfather.

There’s a $15 cover at the door.

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