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In 1979, President Jimmy Carter officially recognized June as Black Music Month to honor the influence of Black musicians and artists in shaping American music.  

It's a reminder that Black music has been at the heart of almost every sound we know and love, including jazz, blues, rock, R&B, gospel, hip hop and even country. 

And in Minnesota, we’ve felt the impact — from the legacy of Prince to the Grammy Award-winning 

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Gary Hines, the founder of Sounds of Blackness, about the history and influence of Black artists across all musical genres. 

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Gary Hines, the music director and founder of Sounds of Blackness, joins MPR News host Angela Davis to talk about the history and influence of Black artists across all genres of music.  

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter officially recognized June as Black Music Month to honor the influence of Black musicians and artists in shaping American music.  It's a reminder that Black music has been at the heart of almost every sound we know and love, including jazz, blues, rock, R&B, gospel, hip hop and even country. And in Minnesota, we’ve felt the impact — from the legacy of Prince to the Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Gary Hines, the founder of Sounds of Blackness, about the history and influence of Black artists across all musical genres.

Celebrating Black Music Month: How Black music shaped every sound we know

A large vocal ensemble performing on an outdoor stage

Celebrating Black Music Month: How Black music shaped every sound we know

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