#blackmusic

On January 27, 1955, less than three weeks after Marian Anderson became the first Black person to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, Robert McFerrin Sr. became the first Black man to sing at the Metropolitan Opera. In 1956, McFerrin played Rigoletto at the Met, thus becoming the first African American to sing a title role there. He also provided the singing to which Sidney Poitier lip-synched in the 1959 film version of Porgy and Bess. McFerrin married Sara Cooper, also an opera singer. They had two children; their son is Bobby McFerrin of "Don't Worry Be Happy" fame and their daughter Brenda is a Motown recording artist. Bobby has three children, of whom two are musicians and one is an actor. #BlackHistory #opera #music #BlackMusichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McFerrin?wprov=sfla1

#BHM Black Women in Music: Margaret Bonds Composing her first song at just age five, #MargaretBonds would to on to build an award winning career displaying a mastery of composition and even opening a school dedicated to ballet and music! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/MargaretBonds-BHM

#BHM Black Women in Music: The Blossoms The Blossoms fought long and hard to make their way in the music industry. Singing backing vocals for some of music's biggest hits even when credit eluded them. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/TheBlossoms-BHM

Merry Clayton made the most of her powerful, soulful voice and brought emotional weight to lift up some of the greatest artists in music! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/MerryClayton-BHM

#BHM Black Women in Music: Nina Simone With a career that spawned from being forced to sing or be fired, Nina Simone went from jazz and cabaret to protest music and maintained a high standard for her performances and artistry. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/NinaSimone-BHM

#BHM Black Women in Music: Odetta A lightning rod who's famed live shows were rumored much better than her recordings, Odetta embodied the events and politics of her era on her way to becoming a folk legend! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/Odetta-BHM

#BHM Black Women in Music: The Crystals #TheCrystals were unfortunate victims of the music industry's history of "less than honest representation," but that didn't stop them from being hard working and amazing artists! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/TheCrystals-BHM

#BHM Black Women in Music: MC Lyte With a musical resume that just keeps going and going, #MCLyte exemplifies her role as a pioneer in hip-hop music and continues to shine with her craft excellence! Personal note: MC Lyte is directly responsible for my entry into sync licensing. I will forever be grateful. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/MCLyte-BHM

#BHM Black Women in Music: The Shirelles Being the first "girl group" to hit number one, #TheShirelles held their own and made a habbit out of staying on the charts! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic ✊🏾 https://kielenki.ng/TheShirelles-BHM