Race Records: A Brief History of Black Artists in Folk, Roots and Country Music

With the recent release of Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter," discussions have been circulating about the presence of Black musicians in country, folk, and roots music. In this conversation with 5x Grammy-nominated roots music icon Ruthie Foster, she briefly sheds light on black artists' long association with this music and its influence on popular music.
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Episode Credits
-----------------------------
Director: Milik Kashad
Executive Producer: Milik Kashad
Script & Research: Tim Dillinger
Script Editor: Milik Kashad
Editor: Milik Kashad
Motion Graphics: Milik Kashad
Voiceover: Milik Kashad
#beyonce #cowboycarter #countrymusic #rootsmusic #folkmusic #musiceducation #musichistory

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Stream Ruthie Foster's 2024 Grammy Nominated Album, "Healing Time" : open.spotify.com/album/3LlngnDKhXd0Mt6BbRe34K?si=9lMcxbvaRsqdJbBMelT1EQ and music.apple.com/us/album/healing-time/1647282127

[@PhatCallas-kt3rk]

If mainstream country music started sounding more like this, I'd be more willing to give it a listen!

[@vienicestyles]

When WP took over country, they ruined it. They took the Soul out of it!

[@TorTheWeirdo]

Been saying it all my life and I will continue to say it. Black people are at the genesis of every genre of modern music.

[@orangemoonglows2692]

actually, if you've taken american music history, you'd know it's a fact that black american music is the basis of all popular music, in particular the blues. when you start learning how to play, what is one of the things you learn? 8 bar blues, etc.

[@donaldewert2332]

Linda Martell was first black female on Billboard country charts. Her 1970 lp Color Me Country was reissued in 2022. I got my copy off ebay, its great country!! ❤

[@vichikes]

The problem with the Lomaxes in the history of black music is that they did meddle with the repertoires of the black artists they recorded. He told artists like Blind Willie McTell to not play the songs McTell regularly played for people but to play songs that appealed to whites’ idealized version of “primitive roots music”. Because white folk artists bought the records.

[@girlbrittneygirl]

Thank you for this Video! Thank you for going against the grain by choosing to honor and educate people on black artists outside of Gospel, Hip-Hop, and R&B.

[@strangeannie5160]

I knew you would talk about this, always educating about the rich history of black people❤

[@Heavenly_Harmony_Hub]

My mother died a few days 💔,just listening to this song gives so much strength.Thank you Lord Jesus

[@NIJEECAPRICORN23]

Thank you for this! I love Ruthie Foster!!

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Taste!

[@detrickfagan3925]

Thank you for mentioning Yola! I just learned of her music a couple of years ago.

[@belleofthering1]

Thank you for making this video!! I really appreciate it

[@tylerhackner9731]

Thank you for this!

[@arlenaholmes]

I love this! What an education in this mini documentary!!! Thanks for this!!! I will now start keeping up with the music of these artists even more!!!

[@Brook-ct3kk]

WE CREATED IT ALL

[@awkwardletter9533]

Damn right!

[@amberjay82]

THIS is GOOD!! #ourHistory

[@divatalk9011]

If an Irish pop star went country there would be no controversy because traditional Irish music had some influence on country; so why is it a problem when a black woman from Texas who literally references herself as a country girl in a 20 year old song be such a problem?! Taylor Swift out on a fake twang and didn’t get dragged

[@TJVegan.]

This is wonderful

[@KJBretto3214]

Josh White is my cousin 🖤

[@sleepyccs]

No mention of Jerrod "blind boy" Paxton?

[@music19151]

CREATED BY US FOLKS, NOT EVERYBODY.

[@AlixandreaCombs]

Beyonce just recently released a country album.

[@MARCIE12ification]

Thank u

[@croissant2024]

🙌🏽

[@timsimmons5190]

And the nerve of us to be mouthing off about hip hop like it's something to be proud of . No this is! Gospel is!

[@girlbrittneygirl]

You have a point here. My issue with black people is they ignore other black artists outside of Hip-HoP/ R&B, but then they have selective outrage for certain artists when white people don't accept them! All of these major black platforms BET, SOULTrain, Motown, In my lifetime, I have not seen where they have recognized artists outside of R&B, Jazz, Gospel, or Hip-Hop.

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

@@girlbrittneygirlTrue, but I would disagree. This is changing today, so Idk what you’re talking about.