OHR Presents: Black Americana

In honor of Black History Month, OHR pays tribute to African Americans’ profound contribution to American music. Forged into the roots of blues, jazz, pop, rock, soul, hip-hop, country, old-time and traditional folk, the influence of African American culture on the American musical landscape cannot be overestimated. This week, we’ll present songs from a variety of modern world class African American performers of traditional American music, recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Featured on this special episode are Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton of PBS’ “American Epic,” Amythyst Kiah of Our Native Daughters (recorded live at Oxford American’s South on Main in Little Rock, AR,) Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Dom Flemons, blues and roots music legend Taj Mahal, and Carolina Chocolate Drops and Our Native Daughters member Leyla McCalla. In this week’s guest host segment, author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage continues our celebration of 50 years of the Buffalo National River. This episode inventories natural resources and the history of economic activity around America’s first national river. Featured is an interview with park ranger & interpreter and Buffalo National River Partners Board member Kevin Middleton.