Val Will Educate, LLC

JUNE IS AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC APPRECIATION MONTH

Before music was streamed around the world, many of its roots were being cultivated right here in South Carolina.

The rhythms, spirituals, work songs, and Gullah traditions born in the South Carolina Lowcountry helped shape some of the earliest foundations of American music. Historians widely recognize African influences preserved by the Gullah Geechee people as instrumental in the development of gospel, blues, jazz, and other musical traditions that continue to influence artists globally.

South Carolina has produced and inspired generations of trailblazing artists whose voices changed music forever:

🎵 James Brown (Barnwell) – The "Godfather of Soul"
🎵 Dizzy Gillespie (Cheraw) – Jazz pioneer and bebop innovator
🎵 Eartha Kitt (North) – International entertainer, singer, and actress
🎵 Darius Rucker (Charleston) – Grammy Award-winning artist
🎵 Angie Stone (Columbia) – R&B and Neo-Soul legend
🎵 Candice Glover (Beaufort) – American Idol winner
🎵 Ranky Tanky (Charleston) – Grammy Award-winning Gullah music ensemble

Did You Know?
✨ The Jenkins Orphanage Band, founded in Charleston in 1891, introduced audiences around the world to early forms of jazz and helped launch the careers of countless Black musicians.
✨ South Carolina native Dizzy Gillespie helped revolutionize modern jazz and is considered one of the founders of bebop.
✨ The Gullah Geechee cultural heritage of the South Carolina coast preserves some of the strongest surviving African musical traditions in the United States.
✨ South Carolina's musical influence can be heard in gospel, jazz, soul, R&B, blues, folk, and contemporary music today.

This month, we celebrate the artists, innovators, storytellers, and cultural traditions that remind us that music is more than entertainment—it is history, identity, resilience, and legacy.

Which South Carolina artist has had the greatest impact on music history?

🚨 Elder Abuse Awareness Matters 🚨
🎉 Join us for the VB TRIAD Community Collaboration Meeting as we celebrate Juneteenth: Freedom, Fellowship & Protection for Older Adults!
📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM
📍 Marian Manor – Virginia Beach
🎙 Featured Speaker: Ruth Brown, Virginia Beach Department of Human Services – Adult & Aging Division. Let’s Connect, collaborate, and support older adults in our community. All are welcome! ❤️💚💛

Save the Dates and join the FUN!🙌🏽🙏🏽❤️

Come out and join the Savvy Senior Connections Spiritual Wellness Team on June 16th for their inspiring presentation: “You Can Make It ~ Strategies for Coping With Grief!”
I am super proud to witness these Savvy Older Adults stepping out of their comfort zones and boldly walking in purpose to serve and uplift others. Their willingness to share, encourage, and support the community is truly powerful!
If your group is Looking for compassionate, engaging speakers for your next event or program? Connect with the team at [email protected].