Talented. Undeterred. History Shapers. These are but some of the attributes found in the musicians of the “Swing Along!“ exhibit. In spite of prejudice and lack of opportunities, these men changed the history of music. Each story is unique as the individual yet similar in the determination they demonstrated. Even when successful, they were not fully recognized. As noted in the exhibit, the covers of published sheet music often had images of white performers rather than the portrait of the African-American composer.
The exhibit features eleven African-American composers and musicians whose contributions influenced American music. Their lives, struggles and successes are discussed on individual pages within the exhibit. As you visit each page, first scroll to the bottom because in many cases, you will find a recording of music by the composer. Most audio clips are under three minutes, so you can read about the composer while you listen to his music.