June is Black Music Month (also known as African American Music Appreciation Month). It’s a time to celebrate “the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage.”

Year-round, The Current traces and acknowledges the influential roles Black musicians play in the creation of popular music as we now know it, but today let’s go even deeper. Sacred and gospel music, the blues, jazz, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, and electronic music all came to be due to important contributions African Americans made from each style’s outset.

For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, which songs by Black artists that shaped the history of music should we play?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played
Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - 99½ Won't Do
Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five - The Message
Jackie Shane - Cruel Cruel World
Sly and the Family Stone - I Want To Take You Higher
Chuck Berry - Memphis
Ella Fitzgerald - I've Got A Crush On You
James Brown - Say It Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud
The O'Jays - I Love Music (bonus)