VIBING ON BLACK MUSIC MONTH

With our Black Music Month special issue due to hit desks next week, you may want to dig into a deluxe Vibe article on the history of the holiday, which gives due props to event co-founders and Black Music Association trailblazers Kenny Gamble and Dyana Williams (the latter profiled in our coverage, some of which is linked below). The piece also notes the vital role of ubiquitous "Black Godfather" Clarence Avant, and includes President Carter's homespun speech from 6/7/79 announcing the holiday. You'll observe that the 39th U.S. Prez uses the term "right on" in a way all but one of his successors probably couldn't, and his remarks are followed by performances by Chuck Berry, Sarah Jordan, Billy Eckstine and Evelyn "Champagne" King.