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Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Celebrates African American History Month

The mural "All in the Family" depicts the ties between country music and African-Americans 87-year old, African-American fiddler Joe Thompson, performed to over 560 school children and 400 members of the general public at the Paramount Center for the Arts on February 3rd and 4th, 2006.

  • More Information about the performance. . .
  • Click Here to View the Study Guides and Additional On-Line Resources
  • Click Here to View a Photo Gallery of Joe Thompson's performance

    Learn more about the African-American roots of Country Music or use the links below:

    Esssays on the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance website:

  • The African American Music Tradition in Country Music
  • All in the Family Mural

    Biographies of African-American musicians on the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance website:

  • Deford Bailey
  • Leslie Riddle
  • Joe Thompson

    Also, see the exhibit The Banjo: From Africa to America and Beyond at the McClung Museum in Knoxville until April 30, 2006.