“Deep Roots, Many Voices” is a project by the Blue Ridge Music Center exploring diversity and inclusion in roots-based music. In these videos, we pair two musicians in each episode to talk about issues related to race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation; how these issues have been part of their personal stories; and the importance of celebrating diversity in the music world. These discussions highlight contributions to American roots-based music from the many voices that make up our nation, and give us hope for a rich and diverse musical future.
The Bluegrass Situation is proud to feature this two-part interview with Dom Flemons and Rissi Palmer. Flemons is a performer, multi-instrumentalist, historian, researcher, writer, record collector, and founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Also known as the American Songster, Flemons presents music covering over 100 years of American popular music in his performances. Palmer made her debut in Nashville as a country artist in the early 2000s, where she made it onto the country charts and onto the Opry stage. She has since continued her career as an independent artist and has her own radio show on Apple Music Country called Color Me Country, where she has conversations with country music’s underrepresented voices.
To learn more about future “Deep Roots, Many Voices” interviews, our “Deep Roots, Many Voices” symposium and other Blue Ridge Music Center news, sign up for the Blue Ridge Music Center’s email newsletter at BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org. These discussions are moderated by Blue Ridge Music Center Associate Program Director Marianne Kovatch.
