Yahoo! Music Celebrates Black Music Month

Posted Mon Jun 9, 2008 12:59am PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

For nearly 30 years, June has officially been recognized as Black Music Month. Former President Jimmy Carter first proclaimed the 30-day celebration in 1979, and President George W. Bush continues to uphold the honor.

In a May 31 proclamation, Bush noted the significance music from Blacks has played throughout American history. "When facing the cruelty of slavery and injustice, African Americans lifted spirituals to the heavens, bringing comfort to troubled souls," Bush said. "These timeless declarations of hope and faith evolved into the more modern genres of gospel, blues, ragtime, and jazz, and they are given voice in the musical genius of Scott Joplin, Marian Anderson, Eubie Blake, and Mahalia Jackson."

Yahoo! Music also acknowledges the contributions Blacks have made to music and has polled two dozen prominent artists including Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Akon, Missy Elliott and Mario on the songs from Black Music history that have inspired them.

Be sure to check back with us throughout the month to find out the impact the likes of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway have had on some of your favorite artists of today. Tell us your favorites in a variety of categories ranging from best performer to best R&B group. Listen to our Black Music Month radio station and view our photo gallery.

Below, Rihanna pays homage to Bob Marley, performing his classic "Redemption Song."

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Photo Gallery - View more than 100 images of pioneers in Black Music.

54 Comments

1. Cristi - Mon Jun 9, 2008 6:31am PDT

Butchering Bob Marley... I hoped it would never come to this.

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2. Lady Hannah - Mon Jun 9, 2008 1:51pm PDT

i can't believe my ears

3. JASON B - Mon Jun 9, 2008 9:40pm PDT

she should sing in her style

4. lynk - Mon Jun 9, 2008 9:52pm PDT

helll no!!!!!!!!!
she butchered that song!!!!
i love rihanna, but never again!!!
i dont think anyone should sing his songs, because no one can do it better!!!!!

5. Samuel - Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:33am PDT

yikes,she she still to her ella ella ella umbrella song

6. IBORO - Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:49am PDT

tanks 2 yahoo 4 honourin os...

7. IBORO - Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:49am PDT

8. IBORO - Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:49am PDT

9. KEODA - Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:18am PDT

Black muziq is great & it should be in everyone's life!

10. Aaisha - Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:44am PDT

Hey no one can sing hiz songs bcoz he has a style all on hiz own.& rihanna made it into slices!!!!!!!!!!!

11. Jay - Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:20am PDT

Lord Have Mercy! I know a white man that can sing Bob Marley songz better than that... what a shame Rihanna. Stick to tounging down Chris Brown!

12. McKey - Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:48am PDT

How is it that Bob Marley is considered an "African American"? Isn't he Jamaican? Does this mean that any person on this Earth that is black is now an African American? Lets just freaking embrace everybody!!! Bob Marley...musical genuis my @55. He was just another pothead with a guitar.

13. B. Smith - Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:34am PDT

Wow...really? A pothead with a guitar? Clearly you've never heard any of his music or the messages he sends... People are so ignorant. He was Rastafarian... they don't just smoke becuase, it's a spiritual thing for them. Educate yourself before writing ignorant comments.

14. Bethesda Babe - Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:10am PDT

The man Might have had his vices but he was a musical genius. Did you know he had horrible pain toward the end of his life due to his Cancer? Read and learn about a person before you past judgement. Plus, there is only one person can can and should judge.

15. Moe - Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:25am PDT

Why are people on this board spending so much time hating on Rihanna?? She's a regular person just like you are. She looks nice, not miserable. She sounds like herself, not Bob Marley (which was clearly not her goal). The guitarist accompanying her played well and fulfilled his obligation, so who cares what you think about his looks? This was clearly supposed to be a celebrity artist in a laidback environment, honoring a legend...and that's what happened. So why are these comments so negative.

And McKey, who said anything about Afircan-American? The title I see includes the words "Black Music," and yes, Bob Marley is considered Black...all people of the African Diaspora are. Go read a book!

16. McKey - Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:32am PDT

Moe, istead of reading a book, why dont you start with a headline. I got that from the headline of the link on the Yahoo Entertainment paget that lead me here. Why dont you go back and check it out. If I am not mistaken, it has a big picture of Bob Marley with a few others and says "African American" in the headline.

17. Moe - Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:42am PDT

Again, McKey...I stated that the title I see here says "Black Music." Since I didn't come here through the Yahoo Entertaiment website, I didn't see anything else. Since I don't plan on going there, I don't plan to see it. However, I apologize for calling you out...but clearly this page doesn't say he's African-American. So when you make comments on this page about other pages, you should let people know where your comment originates from.

18. McKey - Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:52am PDT

Touche`.

19. B. Smith - Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:54am PDT

And yea... the title is celebrating " Black Music Month"

20. McKey - Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:15am PDT

I really touched a nerve with you, didn't I? Ignorant eh? What country did he originate from? Does it mean that I am not American because I was raised Baptist? Doesn't make any sense does it? Why in the world would I spend any considerable amount of time educating myself (a point you feel very strongly about) about a culture/religion that has no adverse effect on myself, my family or my carreer? How about you educate yourself on something such as French Revolutionary culture? Why would you study that you ask? Because we ALL apparantly ned to be educated on all cultures, even the obscure that have no bearing on current issues and/or your personal lifestyle. I have seen many things and been many places. I do not claim to be an expert, nor have I ever, on cultural matters of other countries. I saw parts of Jamaica that I do agree with you on the quality of life. I have also seen parts of South Dallas that appear worse than that to my eye. Do you live in one of these areas? Or are you just fancying yourself a warrior for the Rasta cause?

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