Black music

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.

On March 29, 2024, Beyoncé released “Cowboy Carter,” a 27-track recording that she claims is not a country genre record, but a new Beyoncé record just “rooted in country.” America is our country. Black music is our music, and country music is our music, too.

Former Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner just released his new book, identifying the artists that he views as the greatest musicians of the modern era. In his assessment, he failed to include any Black or women musicians … so I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that he refers to his white male subjects in the title as “The Masters.”

In 1960, when most teens listened to music on seven-inch vinyl discs called records — 45s that sold for 25-to-30 cents each — the legendary Skippy White opened his first record store, Mass Records, at 1820 Washington St. in Boston’s South End.