Even in these unprecedented times, Black Music Appreciation Month serves as a reminder that music—just like America—is resilient and powerful. Encompassing genres such as rap, country, jazz, gospel, R&B, and more, Black music is neither limited nor linear; it is always evolving to capture the voice and tone of our nation. Throughout this celebratory month, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) honors musicians, singers, composers, lyricists, producers, and all those who have shared their gifts and talents contributing to the musical landscape of America.

One of the ways in which the NEA honors and commemorates music and tradition is through our National Heritage Fellowships. Among these fellows are Black musicians who connect cultures and pay homage to the musical ancestors that came before us while striving to leave the same impact for future generations. This year is especially important as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the fellowship!

Let’s take a look some of the musical fellows who have been honored through the years.

2020 NEA National Heritage Fellow William Bell, Soul Singer and Songwriter

“I can’t imagine life without arts. You have to have something that will give you that strength to pick yourself up.”

Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, William Bell became the first male solo act signed to Stax Records—a record deal which led Bell to be a trailblazer in in the Southern soul music genre. His hit 1977 song “Trying to Love Two” landed at number one on the R&B charts. Garnering many accolades in his musical career, Bell is a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Memphis Hall of Fame.

2017 NEA National Heritage Fellow Ella Jenkins, Children’s Folk Singer and Musician

“Children think I’m a great musician. And they come—they gather around when I make a few sounds, notes. And they’ll want me to play over and over again. And then sometimes, I’ll have them clap hands.”

Fondly known as the “First Lady of Children’s Music,” Ella Jenkins lit the path for children’s music leaders around the nation. After receiving her own segment on WTTW Channel 11, This is Rhythm, she became a self-employed musician and traveled globally to share her music and learn songs and stories from other cultures. Jenkins’ first album, Call and Response, remains a bestseller.

2014 NEA National Heritage Fellow The Holmes Brothers, Blues, Gospel, and R&B Band

“We are from a little place called Christchurch, Virginia. We grew up playing piano in the church and were fortunate to have a cousin right up the road who had a club, so we could rock them on Saturdays and save them on Sundays.” —Wendell Holmes

The Holmes Brothers—Wendell Holmes, Sherman Holmes, and Popsy Dixon—formed a unique style of American music that infused notes of blues, soul, gospel, R&B, and more. Initially playing at Dan Lynch’s, a club in New York, the Holmes Brothers expanded their reach and toured globally. After the passing of his musical partners in 2015, Sherman Holmes made his solo debut in 2017, which features blends of bluegrass, rock and roll, and gospel.

2013 NEA National Heritage Fellow Carol Fran, Swamp Blues Singer and Pianist

“I call myself a continental singer because I touch all the bases. I try to. But I do everything my way. I don’t do nothing like nobody else. I do a little something extra to it to make it different, and that’s what helps.”

Performing in both Creole and English, Carol Fran gave audiences a unique voice and piano-playing style, meshing Cajun and Zydeco rhythmic elements. In the early 1980s, Fran married blues guitarist Clarence Hollimon and formed the duo name Hollimon Express— releasing three albums and touring around the United States and Europe. In 2021, Fran passed away from COVID complications, but her legacy still lives on from the bayous of Louisiana and around the world.

2008 NEA National Heritage Fellow Dr. Michael White, Traditional Jazz Musician/Bandleader

“I'm trying to keep the music alive by using personal experience and life, to add those to the musical genre. I think that I'm on the cusp of a new style or a new approach or another major wave of how traditional New Orleans jazz will be played.”

Even though he was raised in a jazz-infused environment in New Orleans, Dr. Michael White found his main musical inspiration from his aunt, a classical clarinetist. After college, Dr. White led an illustrious career, playing alongside more than 30 traditional jazz musicians, joining the Fairview Baptist Church band—led by NEA Jazz Master Danny Barker—and serving as a resident artist at the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. After being displaced due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dr. White slowly sewed the pieces of his life back together and released the album Blue Crescent in 2008.

1988 NEA National Heritage Fellow Willie Mae Ford Smith, Gospel Singer

“I never had a dream that I’d make an album at my age. Sixty-seven when I made that album. But God gave a little boy in New York City the nerve to send for me and bring me in to New York to sing in Radio City Music Hall.”

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Willie Mae Ford Smith and her three sisters sang in churches, and at the 1922 National Baptist Convention, the quartet received praises for their arrangement of the song “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel.” Branching off as a soprano soloist, Smith sang professionally in churches throughout the Midwest—often showcasing her signature style “sermonettes” in between songs. Throughout her career, Smith mentored, taught, and influenced many singers, including Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin.

We've just announced the 2022 class of NEA National Heritage Fellows! Meet them here.