Berklee Performance Center

On May 19, 2018, 600 guests gathered inside St George’s Chapel to attend the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Right before the royal pair exchanged vows, a gospel choir mostly composed of Black Brits, sang a beautiful, simple and soulful rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” in front of a predominantly white, aristocratic audience.

Country music is having its moment. With the release of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” record, Shaboozey’s chart-topping single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, and Sabrina Carpenter’s roots-inspired “Slim Pickins,” the genre appears to be at the forefront of pop culture, with various artists embracing its sound. But its history is often overlooked.