Rhiannon Giddens Instagram – It’s been twenty-five years since the @CountryMusicHOF put out the incredible boxed set “From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music”, loaded with wonderfully written context and a mixture of well-known and scarcely heard recordings. We are getting a bit better at talking about the African American co-creation of country music and absorbing the idea of a creolized culture of the South rather than pockets of white and black that only met in violence. It’s not so much of a surprise anymore that there is a common American musical language that lies at the heart of so many different genres.
The most beautiful thing to me about the Black country renaissance is that its stars, who are finally starting to get the recognition they deserve, are truly using country music the way that, to me, it was born to be used. Their music reflects and highlights a cultural viewpoint that has been traditionally suppressed, shows the best of the American narrative, and, in the end, tells the important stories of now, for the generations of tomorrow.
“From Where I Stand” has returned as an expanded and updated box set (along with a free-to-access online experience). I’m pleased to have contributed liner notes to the new box set and to have some of my songs included. Learn more at the link in my bio. | Posted on 10/May/2024 02:02:09
