Evolution of Black Music in Commercial Recordings

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Black artists faced structural obstacles in the early days of commercial recorded music, with some opting not to speak or sing on records to avoid revealing their race. Despite challenges, artists like D Ford and Lil Hardin Armstrong made significant contributions to music. For instance, Lil Hardin Armstrong's performance on Blue Yodel No. 9 challenged stereotypes as it is considered one of the most iconic country songs, showcasing the evolution and impact of Black artists in the music industry.

Beyoncé has a new country album. The first single has already broken records and drawn criticism from those who think of country music as a “white” genre. Except it’s not. Author and songwriter Alice Randall tells the story of country music’s very Black roots.

This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Victoria Chamberlin and Anouk Dussaud, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.

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