Things Are Looking Up

A dedication
to African American
Musicians throughout the ages.

By Rosman Middle & High School Choir

As Ella Fitzgerald used to sing, "Things are looking up". This collection is dedicated to all the African American musicians who have made beautiful contributions to music throughout time and throughout the world. From voices that sounded long ago to voices that are creating music before our very ears. The music students at Rosman Middle School and Rosman High School have contributed pages with artists who have made a musical impact on generations of music lovers. We are publishing this during Black History Month in hopes to bring our attention to these great musicians and celebrate them. We hope this volume will grow through the years as we add more and more wonderful artists.

Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known professionally as Lizzo, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and flutist. Born in Detroit, Michigan, born April 27, 1988 and is 32 years old, she moved to Houston, Texas, where she began performing, before moving to Minneapolis, where she began her recording career.

Melissa Viviane Jefferson
(lizzo)

Some of her songs are Like a girl(my favorite), exactly how i feel, and truth hurts. They were all made in 2019, beware of the language in her songs though.

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Elizabeth Cotten

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Elizabeth ¨Libba¨ Cotten(1895-1987), was best known for her timeless song ¨freight train¨ and built her musical legacy on a firm foundation of the late 19th and early 20th African-American instrumental traditions. She was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and had taught herself how to play the banjo and guitar at an early age, and she often borrowed her brother´s instruments even though she was not allowed to.

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Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield

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Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield

She was called the Black Swan
Was the best known female African-American singer during her time
She was born into slavery in 1824
After being freed she took the last name of her owner
She a was singer and played the harp and piano
Died from Paralysis in 1876

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker was born on May 13,1966 in Charleston, SC. He was raised by a single mother and has three sisters and two brothers. He went on to attend the University of South Carolina and began a band with some of his friends called, “Hootie and the Blowfish”. Rucker made his Grand Ole Opry debut in July 2008. He later joined the Grand ole Opry on October 16, 2012 after receiving the invitation earlier that month. Darius Rucker has three kids and has made himself a very successful career.

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald was named “The First Lady of Song”. She won over 13 Grammys, sold over 40 million albums, and was the most popular female singer for over a century. She was born in Virginia, on April 25th, 1917. The hardest time in her life was the year 1932, she not only lost her mother but also lost her stepdad and little sister. Then one day she participated in a talent show. She was going to dance but the girl ahead of her did a show-stopping routine and she knew she couldn't top that so instead she sang. And boy did she sing.

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4th, 1901. He was one of the most influential artists in jazz music and some of his songs included What a Wonderful World, Cheek to Cheek, and more. His career lasted 5 decades from the 1920s to the 1960s. He was one of the first soloists on record and played the trumpet. Louis Armstrong died on July 6th, 1971.

Jerome Farah

Jerome Farah Mostly known as the lead singer from the band Jakubi is a music artist/composer and started the band in 2013 with Jerome Farah, Robert Amoruso, Adam Kane, Jesse Rehaunt, and Jacob Farah.

Beyonce

Who Is Beyoncé Knowles? Beyoncé Knowles first captured the public's eye as lead vocalist of the R&B group Destiny's Child. She later established a solo career with her debut album Dangerously in Love, becoming one of music's top-selling artists with sold-out tours and a slew of awards.Jan 12, 2021
Born: September 4, 1981, Houston, Texas
Parents: Matthew Knowles, Tina Knowles