Throwback: Black History Month: Tracy Chapman!

Today is the ninth day of Black History Month. Because the current administration is racist, fascist and wants to deny the existence and histories of anyone that isn’t cis-het and white, there are some important things everyone should remember during this month — and every single month: 

• You can’t love Black artists and their work, and not see them as people 
• Black lives — and Black art matters 
• Black culture is American culture 

As we go through the month, I’m going to talk about a collection of Black artists. It’ll be fairly comprehensive and eclectic list — although it won’t be a complete list. So far I’ve talked about the following: 

• Big Boi, who celebrated his 51st birthday on February 1
•  Rick James, who was born 78 years ago on February 1
• Sudan Archives, one of the most talented and dynamic artists performing out there today
• The Temptations‘ second and longest tenured lead vocalist Dennis Edwards who was born 83 years ago on February 3 
• Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, bassist and JOVM mainstay Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner
• Bobby Brown, who celebrated his 57th birthday on February 5 
• The legendary Bob Marley, who was born 81 years ago on February 6 
• Natalie Cole, the daughter of the legendary jazz singer and pianist Nat King Cole, who was born 76 years ago on February 6
• J. Dilla, who was born 52 years ago on February 7
• The pioneering Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Tracy Chapman‘s 1988 self-titled debut was a massive commercial and critical success. The album earned six Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year, with the album winning three: Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the smash-hit “Fast Car” and Best Contemporary Folk Album. Last year, the album was preserved in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.

Her sophomore album, Crossroads earned her another Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Her fourth album, 1995’s New Beginning, which featured the hit single “Give Me One Reason” was certified 5x platinum by the RIIA and helped her win a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

Adding to her remarkable accomplishments, back in 20223, Chapman became the black person to land a country number 1 with solo composition and to win the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year when Luke Combs covered “Fast Car.” This should prove that “Fast Car” is one of the greatest songs ever written or recorded.

Tracy Chapman needs to be celebrated — not just today but every day.

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