Graphic: Courtesy, Music Moves
A new local nonprofit organization is planning a month-long celebration of African American music next month.
Music Moves, the brainchild of musician Anthony Ball (Funk Factory) will present a series of free online concerts every weekend in the month of June to commemorate African American Music Month.
The concerts will be streamed from the Music Moves social media profiles, and will kick off with a hip hop/rap performance on June 5 by Yung Bay. The Yung Bay performance is part of a series of performances that will be aired on KISS 105.3 called “Freestyle Fridays.”
After that, there will be showcases of a variety of musical styles, including R&B, Jazz, Hip/Hop, Rap, Blues, Soul, and Gospel music featuring a host of local performers from around the state of Arkansas.
In addition to Yung Bay, performers also include Funk Factory, Pastor Tim Rogers & The Fellas, Livesosa, DeeDee Jones, Stephen Ivey, Zo Max, Ocie Fisher, Darius Nelson, 607, Rodney Block and Nichole Thrower, and Marcia E. Smith.
Music Moves was founded in 2019 by musician Anthony Ball with a mission to promote African American music through programs, performances, and curriculum.
Black Music Month was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to “celebrate the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage.” The celebration was renamed African American Music Month in 2009 by president Barack Obama.
In addition to the live music programming, Music Moves is also collaborating with Community Cohesion Group, Crystal Bridges, and other organizations and artists on a series of educational programming.
See the full schedule of performances planned for next month below.
For more information about Music Moves, visit their website.
African American Music Month Schedule
