IU Archives of African American Music and Culture Director Tyron Cooper has an insider’s view of Black music and the culture behind it, much of which goes back to the Black church.

He says that’s part of what makes AAAMC different: it looks at the broad context and origins of Black music, and makes it accessible for both scholarship and casual listening.

Cooper joins Dean Shanahan on Through the Gates to tell us more about the archives and share AAAMC Speaks, a documentary series hosted by the archives in partnership with the Office of the Provost.

The series brings the archives alive in a series of interviews with industry executives and performers in various genres of Black music. The first episode on Eddie Gilreath shows one of the first Black professionals to work at the executive level in the music industry.

Coming up are features on AAAMC founding director Dr. Portia Maultsby and the foundational jazz musician Reggie Workman.

Go to aaamc.indiana.edu to learn more about the archives.