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Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe.

Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe, from the birth of recorded sound to the present day.

BBC Radio 4 LW

Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History: Series 1

Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History: Series 1: Episode 3: 1920-1930

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Episode 3

Episode 3: 1920-1930

Series 1

1920-1930

BBC Radio 4 - Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History, Series 1, 1920-1930

The Wire's Clarke Peters reveals a surprising musical history from a century ago.

The Wire's Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe, from the birth of recorded sound to the height of the jazz age.

The Wire's Clarke Peters draws on a rare collection of archive recordings to explore a forgotten musical history. 

Received wisdom has it that black popular music arrived in Europe with the Empire Windrush in 1948, but Clarke brings us black sounds recorded in Europe from as far back as 1900.

Focusing on early commercial discs made in the recording studios of London, Paris and Berlin, we hear from dozens of different performers, including African American travelling entertainers, traditional African musicians, black British classical composers and more.

Episode 3 - 1920-1930
Clarke explores the sounds of Zonophone records, a pioneering label that recorded a huge amount of early African popular music. Many of these discs were made in London for export to West Africa, including several Nigerian hymns recorded in 1922 by Fela Kuti's grandfather. The programme also includes the sounds of African American jazz in 1920s Paris, especially the work of Josephine Baker, the world's first black superstar.

Much of the music in this series is drawn from Black Europe, a vast boxset issued by Bear Family Records and documenting the sounds of the era. 
With readings by Paterson Joseph.


Produced by Tom Woolfenden
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe, from the birth of recorded sound to the height of the jazz age.

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Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History

Series 1

Episode 3: 1920-1930

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