Donloe's Lowdown: BLACK MUSIC MONTH 2020: Celebrities Name Their Favorite Song of All Time

Thursday, June 11, 2020

BLACK MUSIC MONTH 2020: Celebrities Name Their Favorite Song of All Time

By Darlene Donloe

June is Black Music Month and what better time to celebrate its rich history.

For centuries, Black musicians, singers, writers, and producers have made incredible contributions to the music industry.

This is the month set aside to pay homage to all those individuals who, through their music, have made us smile, laugh, cry, dance, tap our feet, clap our hands and swivel our hips.

President Jimmy Carter officially designated the month of celebration on June 7, 1979. It was during a reception at The White House, which featured performances by Chuck Berry, Billy Eckstine, Little Richard, and Andre Crouch.

On May 31, President Barack Obama declared the month of June 2016 “African-American Music Appreciation Month” in a presidential proclamation. Although June was first deemed “Black Music Month” by Jimmy Carter and campaigned for by songwriter and producer Kenneth Gamble back in 1979, as the nation’s first Black president, Barack Obama felt strongly that an official proclamation was more appropriate.

The proclamation calls Black music “Among the most innovative and powerful art the world has ever known.” President Obama also called upon “Public officials, educators, and people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster appreciation of music that is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.”

I caught up with some celebrities and asked them the following: What is your favorite song of All-time?