Three classroom videos celebrating the work of black British music makers, spanning the period of 1900 to the present day. The series begins with religious and classical music in the early 1900s and ends with a rapper headlining the Glastonbury Festival in 2019. Along the way we explore how black British music moves alongside and within British history.
These videos have been produced in collaboration with V&A East Museum.
The videos
Part 1: 1900 - 1960. video
This episode covers the racial and cultural roots of the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the popularity of jazz in Britain in the 1920s and 1930s, and the musical impact of those who arrived in Britain following World War Two.
Part 2: 1960 - 1995. video
In this episode we look at how the popularity of imported music like Jamaican Ska and Reggae influenced British-born black music. We trace the growth of home-grown British musical styles like Lovers Rock alongside others inspired by Soul, Funk, Punk, Jazz, Rap, Disco and House Music, all of which emerged in this exciting period.
Part 3: 1995...And Beyond. video
This episode explores the evolution of UK Garage and Grime, their use of modern technology and independent media, to Stormzy's headline stage performance at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival.
The Music is Black: Celebrating Black British Music
Today black British artists headline the biggest festivals and black British music genres are part of the mainstream. It wasn't always so. The journey of black British music from relative obscurity and to triumphant ubiquity is one of resistance, determination and creativity. It's a story about race and culture…and it's also a British story. One that these videos celebrate.
The story of black British music has been arranged in three episodes:
- The composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Hiawatha's Wedding Feast
- The popularity of Jazz in Britain in the 1920s and 1930s, including band leader Ken "Snakehips" Johnson
- The musical impact of those who arrived in Britain following World War Two
- Winifred Atwell and her Number 1 hit "Let's Have Another Party"
- Download/print the transcript
- The popularity of imported music like Jamaican Ska and Reggae
- The racism and prejudice faced by many black migrants in the UK
- The development of sound system culture
- The growth of home-grown British musical styles like Lovers Rock
- The emergence of R&B, Soul and Jungle
- Download/print the transcript
- The use of new technology and independent media
- Goldie and MOBO Awards
- The evolution of UK Garage and Grime
- Stormzy's headline performance at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival
- The narrative arc which sees black British music move from the margins to the mainstream - and remain there
- Download/print the transcript
The team
The following contributors appear throughout the three episodes.
Kaylee Golding
Kaylee is a DJ and an award-winning presenter on 1Xtra. Kaylee is our narrator, guiding us through the history of black British music.
Dr Monique Charles
Monique is a sociologist with an academic interest in the analysis of music within the social sciences. She is an expert in black British music genres, including Grime.
Kevin Le Gendre
Kevin is a prominent British journalist, broadcaster and author specialising in black music. He writes for a range of newspapers and publications and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio.
Linett Kamala
Linett is a DJ, artist and academic. Being one of the first female DJs to perform on a sound system in the early 1980s at the iconic Notting Hill Carnival at 15 years old, she is known as the 'sound system queen'. Her lectures specialise on carnival, festival, sound system and British music culture.
Professor Mykaell Riley
Mykaell is a founding member of Steel Pulse, subsequently a writer, composer and producer. Mykaell is currently a senior lecturer and Director of the Black Music Research Unit (BMRU).
Links
- Celebrating Black British Music: Assembly for Secondary Schools - Assembly pack for secondary schools on the theme of celebrating black British music.
- The Music is Black - Content curated from across the BBC celebrating black British music.
- Popular Music Styles - A Bitesize guide for students on popular music styles, including Jazz, Reggae and Rap.
- West Indian Community during the 1960s, 70s and 80s - Bitesize for Teachers resources exploring the lives of London's West Indian community during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, produced alongside the BBC One Small Axe films directed by Oscar winner Steve McQueen.
- Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: 'Nonet in F minor' - Performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
- V&A East - These videos have been produced in collaboration with V&A East Museum.
