Now is the perfect time to discover Tennessee‘s black musical heritage during Black Music Month and ahead of the Juneteenth celebrations also taking place this month.
Music lovers can explore the vast influence of African Americans on music and culture over the decades at a series of immersive attractions across the state.
The National Museum of African American Music in Nashville
Every June, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville hosts a series of events and experiences. It is the only museum dedicated to celebrating musical genres created, inspired or influenced by African Americans.
NMAAM Black Music Month showcases and honors the history of African American music.
Throughout June, special events include:
Black Music Month Mixology Class (June 11): This cocktail class includes personalized Black Music Month collector’s glasses and a DJ spinning classics.
Bridge to Broadway Party (June 16): Returning for its fourth year, this annual party will be the “Blackest Broadway” ever, celebrating sound makers from blues to hip-hop, country and more.
June 16 Community Day (19th of June): NMAAM offers a free admission day packed with programming that recognizes and celebrates the 12 freedoms gained after slavery. A cocktail class will be offered with a third ticket as an NMAAM day party.
Soul Power: The Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis
From “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” to “Shaft,” Stax Records turned up the volume in the 1960s with raw, soulful music from iconic artists like Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MG’s and Albert King. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis offers a deep dive into the history of soul music, with a replica studio dedicated to Stax stars. Walk through the history of soul music, see vintage footage, and see Isaac Hayes’ collection of vibrant stage costumes and custom Cadillac.
Stop by Four Way Grill, which has been a Memphis culinary institution since 1946 and the place where countless soul legends filled up on soul food before and after recording sessions.
The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Sun Studio in Memphis
Sun Records’ black music roots run deep, with legends like Howlin’ Wolf, BB King, Rufus Thomas and many others. In fact, it was at the Sun that Jackie Brenston performed “Rocket 88,” the single that many scholars consider the first rock ‘n’ roll song. Today you can tour the preserved studio and listen to outtakes from the recording sessions.
The city of Memphis will host the annual two-day Memphis Juneteenth Festival with food, fun and festivities, June 14-15, 2024.
The Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School in Brownsville
Before she was crowned Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner was Anna Mae Bullock, born in Nutbush, Tennessee, a place later made famous by her hit song “Nutbush City Limits.” She is celebrated at the Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School in Brownsville, formerly the one-room schoolhouse where she learned her alphabet. Located on the grounds of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, the museum houses the largest known collection of Tina memorabilia in the world. It features costumes, gold records, and her high school yearbook.
While in Brownsville, visit the home of one of Tennessee’s musical giants: blues legend Sleepy John Estes, whose career spanned from the 1920s to the 1970s, influencing everyone from Bob Dylan to the Beatles.
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga
Before Tina, there was Bessie. Still known as the Empress of the Blues nearly a century after her death, the legacy of Chattanooga-born vocalist Bessie Smith comes to life at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Smith was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, whose traces can still be found in jazz, blues, rock, hip-hop and more. Through detailed exhibits, the Cultural Center tells her story, along with other valuable exhibits showcasing the lives of Chattanooga musicians who followed in Bessie’s footsteps.
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center commemorates Juneteenth (June 19) each year with the free Celebration of Freedom festival. This year, attendees will enjoy food trucks, live music from DJ Ant, and free admission to the museum. There will be a screening of the documentary Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom.
More ways to celebrate Juneteenth this year in Tennessee:
June 16 Celebration – The Tennessee State Museum in Nashville will host a celebration on June 15 with family crafts, live music and a reading by Tonya Abari, author of Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth.
Jefferson Street Sound Museum – This Nashville museum preserves the history of Jefferson Street music and entertainment through historical artifacts, sounds and other learning tools through arts and music programs.
June 16 Community Day – The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis will offer free admission on June 19, giving everyone the opportunity to learn about the contributions of African Americans and the continuing struggle for civil and human rights.
Feel-Good Festival at Ruby’s Happy Farm – Located in Cross Plains, just 40 minutes from Nashville, Ruby’s Happy Farm will host the Feel Good Festival on June 22, featuring vendors, entertainment and presentations on agriculture, history and wellness.
Chattanooga Black Arts and Ideas Festivals – An ongoing festival series that highlights and celebrates artists of African descent. The Chattanooga Black Arts and Ideas Festival’s June 19 commemoration ceremony features the sounds of Inversion Vocal Ensemble, led by four-time EMMY-nominated composer Dave Ragland.
Beck Cultural Exchange Center – Knoxville’s Beck Cultural Exchange Center, dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of African Americans, hosts an annual Juneteenth celebration, featuring special exhibits and experiences.
The hermit – This National Historic Landmark and 1,120-acre home of President Andrew Jackson in Nashville will host a series of events including a presentation of freedom stories told by historical experts on June 19. Dr. Brandon Byrd will reflect on emancipation in the Volunteer State in June. twenty.
Plus, explore 15 Tennessee sites along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.
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