Black Music Matters: 2024
(L-R) Jalen Ngonda, Allison Russell, English Teacher's Lily Fontaine, Genesis Owusu, Rhiannon Giddens, Abraham Alexander (Photos: Gus Philippas for FUV)
February is Black History Month, and while FUV always honors Black excellence in music, this month we've planned extra focus and emphasis on songs, documentaries, online Q&As, highlights of FUV Live sessions and concerts, and more.
Our celebration, "Black Music Matters" continues through February 29 ... and beyond.
Listen at 90.7FM, streaming online.
Q&As:
Jamila Woods
Jalen Ngonda
Sinkane
Audio documentaries
Monday, February 12 (1-3pm) and Thursday, February 15 (10pm-midnight):
Music of the Civil Rights & Black Consciousness Movements
The names of many Black artists and cultural icons are woven throughout the decades of the Civil Rights and Black Consciousness Movements, including Nina Simone, Max Roach, Gil Scott-Heron, Archie Shepp, James Brown, John Coltrane, Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield and more, with the inclusion of Civil Rights allies like Bob Dylan. "Music of the Civil Rights and Black Consciousness Movements" examines that critical social revolution taking place in America and the popular music that accompanied it. Hosted by Esther Armah and written and produced by Jim Luce and Loretta Rucker. Co-produced by radio stations WSNC at Winston Salem State University in NC, WCSU at Central State University in OH, WJSU at Jackson State University in MS, WRVS at Elizabeth City State University in NC, WURC at Rust College in MS and KPVU at Prairie View A&M University. These stations, all located at HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) joined forces to enable us to produce this special program.
Tuesday, February 20 (9-10pm) and Thursday, February 22 (10-11pm)
Ashford & Simpson: The Real Thing
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson look back on their long career as influential songwriters, producers and performers. Host Jeff Foxx hosts with stories behind songs like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "I'm Every Woman," "Solid," and more classics this songwriting duo wrote for themselves and artists like Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, and Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell.
Monday, February 26 (1-3pm) and Thursday, February 29, 10pm-midnight
Up Front Soul - Women's History Month
As we look ahead to Women's History Month in March, "Up Front Soul - Women's History Month" closes out FUV's lineup of "Black Music Matters" documentary specials. The strong, inspiring voices of Black women, both musicians and activists, uplift this special and include Nona Hendryx, Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Fannie Lou Hamer, Diana Ross, Leontyne Price, and many other iconic figures.
