Today is the eighth day of Black History Month. Over the course of the month, I’ll spend some time paying tribute to Black artists across a wide and diverse array of genres and styles. My hope is that these posts should serve as an important reminder that the Black experience is the American experience, that Black culture is American culture — and importantly, Black lives and Black art matter. You can’t love Black art and Black artists without giving a shit about Black people.
This month won’t be a comprehensive study of Black music. It’ll be more idiosyncratic because — well, JOVM after all. Now, if you’ve been following this site, you may recall that so far I’ve paid tribute to:
- Chaka Khan
- Reverend Al Green
- The Whispers
- Rick James
- Aretha Franklin
- Sylvester
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- Chuck Berry
- Donna Summer
- Janet Jackson
- Prince
- The Isley Brothers
- James Brown
- Whitney Houston
- Bob Marley (whose birthday was also on Sunday)
- Syl Johnson, who we lost last night at 85
- Louis Armstrong
- Ella Fitzgerald
Tonight, I have to pay tribute to jazz and funk composer, vibraphonist, singer/songwriter and producer Roy Ayers. Ayers is responsible for some of the most beloved — and most sampled — songs of the 70s. What I love about his work is that it’s proudly Black, funky as hell and just positive as fuck. If you have a bad day, play some Roy Ayers, you’ll feel better.
