Musicians, Bands, & Comedians

Cousins Joe and Odell Thompson were natives to the Mebane-Efland area of Orange County and grew up in the tradition of string band music. Joe was most notable for his fiddle playing while Odell would often accompany him on the banjo.

Born in Hillsborough, NC in 1929, John Dee was the last of the generation of Piedmont blues musicians who played for house parties and county dances around Durham, NC

John William “Johnny” Bristol was a musician, songwriter, and record producer after joining Motown he teamed with Harvey Fuqua to write and produce some of their biggest hits, including Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (1967), Edwin Starr’s “Twenty – Five Miles” (1969), Jr. Walker & the All-Stars’ “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” (1969), and Gladys Knight & the Pips’ “I Don’t Want to Do Wrong” (1971)

Once nearly forgotten, the childhood home of jazz legend John Coltrane is slated for preservation and extended new use as an historic site.

For nearly half a century, the North Carolina native has created instruments out of found wood—including some from a notorious hanging tree

The Bull City Soul Revival is a collaboration of musicians and scholars to showcase the history of Soul in Durham

Thelonious Monk, was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire.

Singing in Harmony: The Badgett Sisters-a powerful a cappella gospel trio not too well known outside of North Carolina

Billy Taylor was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster, educator and jazz activist.

James Timothy Brymn was an African-American conductor, arranger, composer, and pianist who generally performed northeastern hot style jazz.

Elizabeth ‘Libba’ Cotten-Master of American folk Music-an American blues and folk musician, singer, and songwriter.

Billy Strayhorn- Innovative Composer And Jazz Pianist-he came to the world of music with a sophisticated knowledge of chromatic harmony; this gave jazz performers and listeners classic melodies unlike any created before him

The banjo came to America with the slaves, and musicologists have long looked in West Africa for its predecessors.

"Moms Mabley" Comic Pioneer, was an African American vaudeville performer and comedian, the first Black woman to establish herself as a single act in standup comedy in America.

Early banjos resembled plucked full spike folk lutes like the akonting of Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau and the bunchundo of Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

Etta Bakers name may not be widely known, but her influence in the Blues music world of acoustic finger-style guitar is widely heard.

Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, known professionally as Shirley Caesar (born October 13, 1938 in Durham, North Carolina), is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned seven decades. A multi-award-winning artist, with 12 Grammy Awards along with Dove Awards and Stellar Awards to her credit, she is known as the "First Lady of Gospel Music" and "The Queen of Gospel Music

August 25, 1962, Little Eva hit the top of the music charts with her recording of “The Loco-Motion.”

The Friends of John Coltrane Officially formed during the summer of 2009. The committee is an outgrowth of the individuals who worked for several years to raise funds to commission the John Coltrane statue that was erected in 2006 along with a kiosk in 2008. In 2009 the group decided to work towards the creation of an annual International John Coltrane Jazz and Blues Festival.

Dewey Pigmeat Markham began his long career in 1917, dancing in traveling shows.

Algia Mae Hinton was an American Piedmont blues guitarist and vocalist. She was best recognized for her ability to merge buck dancing and Piedmont fingerpicking, often playing behind her ahead

Maceo Parker collaborated with a host of artists including George Clinton, Prince, Ray Charles, James Taylor, the Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chili Peppers

The gospel singer, historian, and educator has a voice and a presence that demand attention.

Richard Lewis Spencer is also the owner of the famous "Amen break" featuring a drum solo by G.C. Coleman. There are some who claim that this piece of music helped to launch hip-hop and the electronic subcultures.

The Young Men’s Institute (YMI) is one of the nation’s oldest African American institutions. The Young Men's Institute in Asheville, backed by businessman and philanthropist George W. Vanderbilt, opened in 1893 as a community center for black construction workers at his Biltmore House and Asheville's increasingly segregated African American citizens.

With segregation laws enforced in Durham, the North Carolina Mutual became a clearinghouse for black clubs creating a Glee Club, supporting a women's flower club, being a place for black politics, education, and philanthropy in the Upper South.

Ben E. King embarked on a solo career in 1961 with the song “Spanish Harlem.” Later that year, he released “Stand by Me,” the hit for which he is best known. King’s feelings for his soon-to-be-wife Betty inspired the words and his performance.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and pianist Roberta Flack is the daughter of two pianists, Flack herself began playing piano at age 9.

Drummer Billy Kaye has performed with jazz titans like Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, Lou Donaldson, and George Benson.

In 1953 Clyde McPhatter & Drifters recorded Big Hit “Money Honey.”

John Colrane was a legendary jazz saxophonist and composer

Nat Jones, a Washington, NC PS Jones High School Band teacher was the music arranger of 'I feel good, like I knew I would' by the James Brown.

Contralto Carol Brice was a concert singer, opera performer, and recording artist. She broke many racial barriers for African American musicians, and performed at the inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Eunice Kathleen Waymon, known professionally as Nina Simone, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned a broad range of musical styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop.

Fuller was famous for playing a steel-bodied National guitar that was a natural resonator before amplification. Along with Reverend Gary Davis, Fuller dominated the Bull City’s blues scene, attracting and influencing many musicians.