New in the Library Exhibit Gallery

Music is often thought of as a magic and mystical labor of love by those who do not create it. Musicians and singers pour their hearts and souls into their creations for all to enjoy. But it is a result of labor just as building a house is. Many musical artists and Black artists in particular have not been fairly compensated for their labor and their many stories are not usually documented. The Tom & Ethel Bradley Center has undertaken the Black Entertainment Archives project to document the oral histories of the musical superheroes whose names you might not know but songs you have sung and danced along to. Songs they either performed, wrote, or produced. These oral histories celebrate their love for their craft and the labor it commands to create words and sounds out of thin air that will be heard, enjoyed, and celebrated in perpetuity.

The interviews were conducted by Dr. Keith Rice.

View Black Entertainment Archives clips on Youtube

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Last Updated: 06/27/2025