african american musicians

Provides an overview of the history of African-American women in music and features alphabetically-arranged entries profiling individuals and organizations that have contributed to the field, as well as a chronology of important events.

A collection of critical essays on jazz that examine the creative process, the impact the jazz culture had on African-American artists and musicians, and the careers of John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, and other jazz musicians of the 1960s.

A biography of the singer and Grammy Award winner describing her achievements and personal life.

The true story of Ray Charles, one of the founders of rhythm and blues music and one of the first African-American recording artist to cross over to the pop charts.

Examines the life and achievements of Stevie Wonder, discussing his blindness, childhood, extensive music career, and other related topics.

A brief A-Z illustrated history of jazz and jazz musicians.

Using archival footage, historic photographs, filmed performances, and recorded interviews with musicians and historians, this ten part documentary series explores the history of jazz and its influence on American music.

Talented trumpeter Bleek Gilliam is obsessed by his music and indecisive about his girlfriends. But when he is forced to come to the aid of his manager and chilhood friend, Bleek finds his world more fragile than he ever imagined.

Gucci Mane began writing his memoir in a maximum-security federal prison. Released in 2016, he emerged radically transformed. He was sober, smiling, focused, and positive -- a far cry from the Gucci Mane of years past. Born in rural Bessemer, Alabama, Radric Delantic Davis became Gucci Mane in East Atlanta, where the rap scene is as vibrant as the dope game. His name was made as a drug dealer first, rapper second. His mixtapes and street anthems helped pioneer the sound of trap music. He inspired and mentored a new generation of artists and producers: Migos, Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, Zaytoven, Mike Will Made-It, Metro Boomin. Yet every success was followed by setback. Too often, his erratic behavior threatened to end it all. Incarceration, violence, rap beefs, drug addiction. But Gucci Mane has changed, and he's decided to tell his story. He reflects on his career and in the process confronts his dark past -- years behind bars, the murder charge, and drug addiction.

A biography of the African American soul musician, Aretha Franklin.