Black History Month
In February, the Museum focuses its attention on a specific African-American root or offshoot of rock and roll. Events include free performances by local and national groups, film screenings, lectures, and intimate evenings of conversation, all celebrating the traditions of blues, soul, rhythm & blues and gospel. Since 1996, performers have included Robert Lockwood, Jr., The Temptations, Charles Brown, Ruth Brown, Take 6, Al Green, the Ohio Players and the Manhattans.
In honor of Black History Month this year, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has planned a month-long tribute entitled Through the Lens of Sepia Magazine: 35 Years of the African-American Experience in Music in conjunction with the Rock Hall’s newest exhibit, The Sepia Magazine Photo Archive - 1948-1983, which is now open in the Museum’s Circular Gallery.
All events are FREE unless otherwise noted. Please email or call 216-515-8426 to RSVP.
The Rock Hall’s 2009 Black History Month schedule of events:
Wednesday February 25, 7pm, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 4th Floor Theater
Rock and Roll Night School: The History of King Records
Rock and Roll Night School is a monthly series of educational, discussion-based night classes offered free of charge from 7 pm – 8:30 pm in the Museum’s 4th floor theater. Lauren Onkey, Vice President of Education and Public Programming, and Jason Hanley, musicologist and Director of Education at the Rock Hall, will lead this month’s class, which will focus on the legendary recordings on King Records.
Between 1943 and 1971, the address of 1540 Brewster Avenue in Cincinnati was home to some of the most vibrant and eclectic music making in America. King brought together the most diverse range of American voices that reflect Cincinnati’s unique geographical position as a crossroads of American culture: rhythm and blues, country, bluegrass, rockabilly, pop and blues records all poured out of King’s studios.
Join us as we examine Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees like Hank Ballard, James Brown, and label founder Syd Nathan, while also looking at the contributions of artists such as Otis William & the Charms, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, and the Stanley Brothers. This class will also draw on interview footage recently conducted by Rock Hall staff and featuring Otis Williams (of the Charms), Bootsy Collins, and Ralph Stanley.
Additional events will be announced in the coming weeks.
First published in Fort Worth, Texas in 1947 by George Levitan, Sepia magazine often exposed the obstacles facing African-Americans but more importantly, it celebrated their accomplishments. By way of its popular photojournalistic style, the magazine closely focused on various aspects of the culture including politics, lifestyle and music. Especially during the civil rights era, Sepia was a clear and steady outlet of the African-American community to express its views and highlight its accomplishments. The Sepia Magazine Photo Archive, owned by the African American Museum in Dallas, will be open at the Rock Hall until April 12, 2009.
In celebration of Black History Month each February the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum recognizes the extraordinary contributions that African-Americans have made to popular music. Since 1996, the Rock Hall’s Black History Month events have included film screenings, lectures, intimate evenings of conversation, and performances by local and national groups such as Robert Lockwood, Jr., The Temptations, Charles Brown, Ruth Brown, Take 6, Al Green, the Ohio Players and the Manhattans.
Please click here for previous years’ Black History Month events.
Public Programs
2009 Inductees, Little Anthony and the Imperials, partook in the Rock Hall's Hall of Fame series on February 13, 2009 as part of the Black History Month educational programming.
Please click here for previous years' Black History Month events.
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"The Byrds Are Coming" Poster
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