Wonderscape
The Rise of Ragtime and the Blues
Discover the emergence of ragtime and blues music during and after the Reconstruction Era. Learn how ragtime brought a rhythmic, danceable sound to America, while the blues gave voice to personal stories of struggle and resilience....
Curated Video
Gladys Bentley: Breaking All the Rules
At a time when homosexuality was illegal in the United States, LGBTQ+ artist and pioneer Gladys Bentley broke all the rules to become one of the wealthiest Black performers of her time.
Curated Video
The Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was an explosion of African American culture and creativity that began in 1920s New York.
A&E Television
Biography: Singers
An extensive collection of video biographies of popular singers, present and past, from all musical genres. Each article includes its citation in several formats. (Note: Some entries have 'Singer' in their names but are not actual singers.)
BBC
Bbc Poetry Out Loud: Bessie Smith in Yorkshire by Adrian Mitchell
Listen and follow along as British author Adrian Mitchell recites his poem "Bessie Smith in Yorkshire."