This a time for Giving…Share your History this Season! The holidays are a meaningful time to reflect, gather and remember family milestones, and The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) needs your mementoes for exhibits in the museum when it opens.
The Museum and the Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership (J.U.M.P.) would like you to uncover and share musical images and items of historical and cultural significance. Everyone knows about those photos tucked away in your attic, closets and garages. They’re interested in gathering, and using, images and artifacts specific to the music of Nashville that once celebrated and featured African American musicians.
Take time during the holiday season to gather photos, videos and images of your parents, family members and friends who were once part of the Jefferson Street, Charlotte Avenue or Downtown Nashville music scene. To submit items, email NMAAM’s Curator, Levon Williams at info@nmaam.com or call 615-301-8724. Visit their website for more information at nmaam.org.
As the only museum dedicated to the many offerings African Americans have made in music, the National Museum of African American Music serves a global landscape by commemorating and honoring the legacy, impact and influence of rhythm on over 50 music genres and styles. Detailing the many dimensions of all types of music, NMAAM focuses on the musical impact of musicians and consumers around the world.
NMAAM recently hosted Sips & Stanzas: The Magic Behind the Music on November 19th at the historic RCA Studio B on Music Row. As the recording home of many musical greats, NMAAM connected their monthly series to the iconic Music City landmark. Eric Holt of Lovenoise moderated the event, which featured panelists Thalia Ewing of Sony Publishing, Robert Solomon of Woodland Studio and Roxy Theatre, Lorenzo Washington of Jefferson Street Sound, Rex Collier of Collier Productions, and Michael West of Jetpack Artist Ventures.
“As Nashville continues to grow and diversify its Music City brand, programs like Sips & Stanzas provides a new offering to learn about the music, musicians and the industry that has been shaped and influenced by truly remarkable people,” said H. Beecher Hicks, III, president and CEO of NMAAM. “This event allows us to integrate music and artists in order to provide an outlet for entertaining and educational discussions that impact the mission of NMAAM.”
Traditionally each month’s topic focuses on a particular genre of music or artist, but this time the museum was mixing it up. In a city filled with dreams of becoming the next big artist or creating the next hit single, this event provided attendees with an opportunity to learn about what it takes to succeed in the industry. From recording, producing, manufacturing, distributing and marketing, participants learned and interacted with experts, as Sips & Stanzas went ‘behind the scenes.’
NMAAM kicked off its 2015-2016 Emerging Artists Series, powered by #Spreadluv615, on Saturday, November 21st at Party Fowl, with the soulful sounds of R&B singer-songwriter Heidi Burson. The concert series serves as a platform to showcase the different musical genres that people can experience in Music City while also introducing emerging artists who embody diverse musical and cultural perspectives.
The next Sips & Stanzas will provide a Year End Review program on December 17. For more information, visit www.NMAAM.org, Facebook: theNMAAM or Twitter: @theNMAAM
