June is African American Music Month

Santa Barbara Black Culture House x Santa Barbara Public Library present: The Funky Neighbors

June is African American Music Month! Kick off the celebration with a one-of-a-kind live music performance by The Funky Neighbors, happening from 1-4pm on the Michael Towbes Library Plaza. This special event is coordinated in partnership with Santa Barbara Black Culture House.  

African American Music Month is an opportunity to celebrate and learn about the many musical traditions shaped by Black artists. From Sacred Music to Blues, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Rock 'n Roll, Hip-Hop and so much more. Black artists have been shaping our nation's cultural heritage for generations.

Originally named "Black Music Month," the designation was an effort by noted music executive Kenny Gamble and radio DJ Ed Wright to honor the contributions of Black music artists and seek economic equity. Along with journalist Dyana Williams, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Motown founder Berry Gordy, and legend Stevie Wonder, they formed the Black Music Association (BMA) in 1978. BMA lobbied the White House for official recognition for Black Music Month, which was decreed by President Jimmy Carter on June 7,1979. It was officially recognized by Congress in 2000 and later renamed as African-American Music Month by President Barack Obama in 2009.

Continue the celebration by exploring fiction and non-fiction titles in the Library's Catalog, or stream documentaries on the subject at Kanopy to expand your knowledge.

 These children's books

About Santa Barbara Black Culture House

Santa Barbara Black Culture House is a pop-up cultural space in Santa Barbara celebrating the richness of Black culture.  Co-founder Darrell McNeill is the author of The Isley Brothers: 3+3, which can be found in the Library's Catalog.  

About The Funky Neighbors

The Funky Neighbors are a three-piece, Jazz influenced instrumental band based in Los Angeles. The band consists of Keyboardist Damon "Super Day" Wilson, Drummer Terrance "Smoke" Huggins, and Bassist Stevie "G Roofa" Martin. The Funky Neighbors sound developed via a series of Friday night jam sessions in keyboardist Super Day's garage. In that informal Setting with a few friends over and one microphone hanging from the rafters  of the garage - it was time to push play. The original music that flowed out of those Friday sessions synthesized elements of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Go-Go, and Funk, organically placing the Neighbors  in the stylistic orbit of bands like Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters and The Roots. The Funky Neighbors are a tight live unit of experienced players who have been in service as backing musicians for a myriad of artists, including: George Clinton, The RZA and others. The Funky Neighbors bridge the gap between Hip Hop and BeBop to keep the tradition of original music created and played by real musicians alive.