ONME News: African-American Museum honors Juneteenth and Black Music Month through annual Jazz &
FRESNO,CA--Known as the hub of the African-American community, The African-American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley (AAHCMSJV) celebrated the lives of Woody Miller (posthumously) and 79-year old Bobby Brown this past weekend at its annual Jazz & Blues Exhibit Celebration honoring Black Music month and Juneteenth.
As Juneteenth is celebrated throughout the nation on the closest weekend to June 19, the AAHCMSJV has been officially a part of the Black community Juneteenth celebration in the city of Fresno for more than two decades, providing historical, educational exhibits about Juneteenth and Black Music Month as well as musical concert tributes.
The history behind Black Music Month and Juneteenth:
Since 2011, the annual Jazz & Blues Exhibit - Celebration at the African-American Museum, has commemorated the talented black jazz and blues artists known in Fresno and throughout the San Joaquin Valley in honor of Black Music Month and Juneteenth.
It would be on June 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter decreed June to be Black Music Month. Historically rooted in rich African traditions and the conflicted slave trade, black folk music provided the soil for jazz to grow. Other sounds began to join the chorus. From rhythm and blues to barbershop and swing, the artists responded to every era with a fresh wave of inspiration and visionary sound.
Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is a national American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States. Its name is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth", the date of its celebration.
Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in forty-five states.
The celebration started off with the professional, renowned artist, Will Portis's assembled and showcased Black artists Melody Glass and Bill Wolfmann inside of the AAHCMSJV.
Known as Black Music Month, it was given the name change, African-American Music Appreciation Month in 2009 by President Barack Obama who also noted in his 2016 proclamation, the major contributions of African-American musicians to this country.
The trio-co-founded idea of Dyana Williams, Ed Wright and Kenny Gamble came to life in steps.
Co-founder, radio personality and celebrity media coach Dyana Williams was able to get it officially recognized, but it was initiated by Wright and Gamble, and then established by decree from President Jimmy Carter June 7, 1979; Gamble is the legendary songwriter/producer, and Ed Wright was a successful broadcast executive; they also founded the Black Music Association the same year.
Wright’s idea partnered with Gamble would only make sense, being that Gamble was the successful music producer with business partner Leon Huff amassing 175 gold and platinum records from such well known songs as the Soul Train theme song, the Ojay’s “Love Train” and Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs. Jones”, earning them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2008.
In 2000, the United States government officially recognized Black Music Month after Williams and Congressman Chaka Fattah tirelessly pushed to get the African American Music Bill passed through legislation, under the President Bill Clinton Administration.