Program spotlights black artists, musicians

GULFPORT — The street sweeper truck was invented by C.B Brooks, a black man, in the late 1800s.

This was one of many facts learned at the Katie Booth Community Center in Gulfport Thursday night celebrating Black History Month. The Gulfport Department of Leisure Services presented “Reflections of African-American Culture through Art, Music and Movement.” The event featured local artists, a jazz band and dancing.

The keynote speaker was Rip Daniels, owner of WJZD radio station and founder of American Blues Network, a nationally syndicated radio program.

Daniels spoke of the rich cultural background that the blues has played in shaping the Delta region, from its inception in the African continent to the economic contribution that lures musicians brought to the areas where they lived, worked and played their music.

“Did you ever love a girl and didn’t know why? — that’s the blues” is how Daniel’s father best described a genre of music that many have a hard time describing.

Read Full Article