Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Inside the Exhibition:
- Original vinyl recordings and early images of the Fisk Jubilee Singers
- Performance images of “The Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin
- Iconic images of legendary Blues guitarist John Lee Hooker
- Interactive listening stations featuring each genre
- The Remix: The Legacy of Hip-Hop Sampling station
- Films of live performances, firsthand accounts, and more
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
