June is Black Music Month (BMM) and it’s not only a time to pay homage to Black music pioneers, but to recognize those who are still paving the way and carrying the torch of creativity. Created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter-producer and Black Music Association co-founder Kenny Gamble, the initiative, which was to highlight Black artists’ many contributions to American society and history, was cemented as a monthlong celebration by late President Jimmy Carter in 1979. But for Gamble, and those who worked closely with him, including music industry vets Ed Wright and ex-wife and BMM co-founder Dyana Williams, the recognition of artists in June also had an economically-charged goal: to highlight and advocate for musicians who created and defined Black music and culture, but did not always reap the benefits of it.
“Initially, Black Music Month started as an economic program more than anything else,” Gamble told with Williams. “The CMA had worked to establish October as Country Music Month, so we picked June as a time where we could concentrate on recognizing and celebrating the economic and cultural power of Black music and those who made and promoted it.” He continued, “The slogan we came up with was, ‘Black Music Is Green’ — it was about economics.
So, in an effort to galvanize, as well as create an advocacy entity, Black Music Month was born. Now, forty-five years later, the purpose of the month still holds true and TODAY.com is helping to shine a light.