Blues artist B.B. King biography provides an overivew of King's life and musical career. Site contains two videos of King performing.

The career of "The Godfather of soul," is highlighted in this biographical sketch from PBS. One of the greatest performers in the 20th century, James Brown influenced the direction of black cultural music and dance. View video clips of...

This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Taj Mahal, an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and one of the pioneers of what came to be called world music. He combined blues and other African-American...

Sam Cooke's influence on music, as the pioneer in cross-over from gospel to rhythm and blues, is described in this encyclopedia entry. His music was important to the African-American identity in the Civil Rights movement.

This is a brief encyclopedia biography of the ragtime composer, Scott Joplin, whose music was influential in the growth of jazz.

This encyclopedia entry offers a brief look at Quincy Jones, who began as a jazz trumpet player, but has expanded his career beyond music into film and television. There are links to websites for more information.

This well-written biography of Scott Joplin not only provides his progress as a musician but also the personal events in his life which influenced his music. Includes links to a complete list of Joplin's works, a MIDI archive, and site...

This lesson plan supplements a study of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The lesson is designed to help students understand the impact of Jim Crow Laws and their impact of oppression on African Americans. Blues music is shared to help...

This site, which explores the influence of musical folk traditions in the poetry of Langston Hughes and Nicolas Guillen, provides lesson plans, a biography, examples of Hughes' poetry, and details about his meeting with Nicolas Guillen.

This site offers the first chapter of Ted Gioia's book, "The History of Jazz." This chapter focuses on the prehistory of jazz, including the Africanization of American music, country blues and classic blues, and Scott Joplin and Ragtime.

Provides early childhood education activities that engage African American culture. Poetry, music, foods, and more are included.

World on Your Street, although not actively maintained since 2005, is one answer to uncovering different sounds in world music. Find interviews with musicians who brought their music to the UK from many different parts of the globe....

Red Hot Jazz outlines the origins of jazz, taking a look at the blend of cultures that existed in New Orleans at the turn of the century when jazz first emerged as a unique musical form. Includes links to additional information about...

A brief biography of the life and musical career of Louis Armstrong from the National Portrait Gallery.

Looking for information on African Canadian culture, music, dance, film, literature and visual art? This website from Toronto's York University's Centre for the Study of Black Cultures in Canada provides a flood of valuable information....

Cartoon illustration of the African musicians.

Access the educational resources developed by a Seattle-based museum to supplement the PBS documentary series "The Blues." Includes background essays on the blues; biographies, video clips, and sound clips from the series; a blues...

This PBS biography about trumpeter and jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie includes photos, multiple audio features, and links within the text to other famous musicians.

Smithsonian Jazz is home to several online exhibits, an interactive "Duke Ellington class," recordings, publications, oral histories, and similar resources.

A large collection of lesson plan links, including links to video clips, stories and folk tales, games, PowerPoints, and clip art.

A short biography of Scott Joplin (1868-1917 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.

In this lesson, students watch African dance and calculate tempo. Students also calculate heart beats at rest and after exercise and convert beats per second to beats per minute. Media resources and teacher materials are included.

Several videos which show the processes of how adinkra cloth and glass beads are made. Also includes a few videos on African dance and music.

Several videos which show the processes of how adinkra cloth and glass beads are made. Also includes a few videos on African dance and music.