Black Opry is home for Black artists, fans and industry professionals working in country, Americana, blues, folk and roots music.
Building Community
Black Opry is home for Black artists, fans and industry professionals working in country, Americana, blues, and folk music. Country and roots music have been made and loved by Black people since their conception. For just as long, we have been overlooked and disregarded in the genre. Black Opry is changing that.
“Black Opry is so powerful because it reflects not only this generation of artists, musicians, and songwriters, but also writers, critics, journalists, and fans who are interested in not just amplifying the work of Black country artists and other marginalized communities,” says Dr. Charles L. Hughes, historian and author of Country Soul, “but also in creating networks and building a sense of community to avoid dealing with racist institutions.”
Photo Credit: Alyssa Donyae
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Advocate & Educate
Black Opry Residency
In Partnership with WXPN
WXPN’s Black Opry Residency celebrates and amplifies Black Americana musicians working to reclaim their place in the American musical cannon. Americana is an umbrella term that integrates traditional roots music genres including country, bluegrass, folk, blues, gospel, alternative country, and singer-songwriter.
WXPN Artist To Watch Podcast
Each episode of Artist To Watch from WXPN takes you on a deep and personal dive into the real-life struggles of emerging performers and offers up new talent for you to discover before the rest of the world does. The debut season delves into the lives and music of up-and-coming musicians who found support, community, and inspiration through the Black Opry Residency.
All five episodes are now available to stream below.
Learn more about the Artist To Watch program.
This project is funded by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Partnerships
The Black Opry is proudly supported by Wrangler.
The Black Opry at Freight & Salvage
The Black Opry Revue will visit Berkeley, CA once per quarter in partnership with nonprofit community arts organization Freight & Salvage. Each show will feature a unique lineup.
"The Freight and Salvage has always been a home for "Traditional Music” and when I heard about Black Opry I really wanted to partner with them. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a huge part of our mission, and Black Opry fits perfectly with our mission and our vision for the future, to build an audience for black country here in the bay area."
- Peter Williams, Freight & Salvage Artistic Director
Discover Artists
Explore artist profiles.
Learn About Black Opry Members.
Enjoy playlists curated by The Black Opry.
Press Coverage
Press
Black Opry Creates Safe Space For Black Country Music Fans & Artists
Unapologetically Black Country, The Black Opry | Country Music: A Nashville Story | NPT
Holly G, Tae Lewis, & Julie Williams - Black Opry (A Reclamation)
