June is Black Music Month, This is How It Happened

Now in its 40th year, Black Music Month is celebrated annually in June. It all began with radio personality Dyana Williams, Philadelphia International Records founder, songwriter/producer Kenny Gamble and broadcast executive Ed Wright, and was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

“June, Black Music Month, is important because it increases awareness and appreciation of America’s indigenous musical genres from gospel to rock, jazz, R&B,” Williams said exclusively to the Philadelphia Tribune. “At this time, hip-hop is the most dominant music around the world. In addition to Black music influencing fashion, advertising, social media and cinema, it is a major economic entity that generates billions of dollars annually.”

Dyana Williams hosts the Sunday Morning/Afternoon Program on 100.3 WRNB "Soulful Sunday" with Derrick Sampson. Read more at the PhillyTribune. 

Black Music Month plays on for 40 years https://t.co/fpAQH5pTru via @phillytrib

— Dyana Williams (@DyanaWilliams) May 31, 2019