MY FAVORITE MOMENTS IN MUSIC 2021

Another year has come and gone and during that time, I have shared the music that I have loved throughout. Here is a small collection of songs that were some of my favorites that I didn't get a chance to highlight:

BLACK WOMEN IN COUNTRY MUSIC

When Maren Morris picked up her third CMA Award of the evening for Female Vocalist of the Year, the singer startled the audience by giving a shout-out to the African-American women in country music in her acceptance speech. Morris may have warmly praised these performers and their contributions to the genre however country radio has never put much effort in to touching their music. It's not like female country music artists have been getting the amount of airplay that they deserve but Black vocalists are not even seriously being considered for exposure on the format.

I think the resistance is very similiar to white performers who try to enter hip-hop and r&b. This viewpoint tends to come from people being irrationally suspect of any apparent outsider. And while that might be somewhat understandable, I know that most would agree that if the performer is heartfelt and talented in any musical genre, regardless of race or gender, they should be welcomed with open arms.

While I had heard of a few of the artists that Morris mentioned (Yola, Rissi Palmer, Rhiannon Giddens), most of them were new to me like Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer and Linda Martell. That made me think that a spotlight should be placed on some of these gifted performers and so here it is:

RISSI PALMER

Rissi Palmer came on the scene in 2007 with the aptly titled single, "Country Girl" which was the first song by an African-American female performer to chart on the Hot Country Songs chart in twenty years (which was Dona Mason with Danny Davis on a 1987 cover of "Green Eyes (Cryin’ Those Blue Tears)"). Palmer grew up being a fan of country and r&b before later deciding she wanted to pursue becoming a country performer. The road was definitely bumpy for the young singer but her first opportunity came from producers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who wanted to sign the-then nineteen year old to a recording contract. However, Palmer turned it down since they wanted to mold her into a r&b singer and she knew that wasn't the direction she wanted to go.

Palmer finally got a record deal on her own terms, releasing a self-titled debut which featured the charting songs, "Country Girl" and "Hold On to Me". She also charted with a country cover of Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown's hit, "No Air" in 2008. Despite this promising success, Palmer still struggled to make her follow-up and released a children's album, "Best Day Ever" in 2013 that featured inspiring country-soul songs that kids and adults could enjoy. Palmer's last album to date was "Revival" in 2019, a critically acclaimed collection that features some of her most personal work, involving songs on love, racial tensions and self-acceptance.



MICKEY GUYTON

Born Candace Mycale Guyton in Arlington, Texas, she was inspired to become a country singer after watching a teenage LeAnn Rimes sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a baseball game. Mickey Guyton signed with Capitol Nashville in 2011 but has only released three EPs to date with "Unbreakable" in 2014, a self-titled record the following year and "Bridges" that came out in September. Guyton received attention for the song, "Black Like Me" which went viral during the Black Lives Matter protests earlier this year and she became the first African-American country artist to perform solo on this year's Academy of Country Music Awards with another single from the EP, "What Are You Gonna Tell Her? ".



LINDA MARTELL

Linda Martell was an early African-American pioneer in country music who had a brief yet extremely complicated moment of success in the genre. She was born Thelma Bynem in Leesville, SC, raised on gospel music and began her career singing R&B. Martell drifted towards country which lead to her meeting Shelby Singleton, a very successful music producer, and signed to his offensively named label, Plantation Records in 1969. She would release her debut album, "Color Me Country" the following year which featured the charting songs, "Color Him Father", "Bad Case of the Blues" and "Before The Next Teardrop Falls". This success would lead to appearances on the popular television show, "Hee Haw" and make Martell the first black woman to appear on the Grand Ole Opry.

But Martell had to endure hateful, racist taunts from audiences when she performed. She had sought advice from Charley Pride, the only other African-American performer in country at the time, and all he could recommend was to develop a thick skin and just focus on singing. This proved too much for her to bear and Martell would leave her music career behind. She became a school bus driver and a teacher for children with learning disabilities. Over the years, Martell would try from time to time to attempt a comeback but Singleton had effectively blackballed her in country music.

YOLA: WALK THROUGH FIRE

One thing I love about the Grammy Awards is that there will be a nomination that will place an overdue spotlight on an extraordinary talent who has released an incredible record that has not gotten all the attention it deserves. This year that performer is Yola, a musician from Bristol, England who received four Grammy noms including Best New Artist. And while many would be quick to assume she was singing r&b or gospel, Yola has actually been nominated for Best Americana Album for her debut release, "Walk Through Fire".

Born Yolanda Quartley, her parents did not approve of her wanting to be musician, preferring their daughter to find a more practical profession. But Yola confidently persevered and went on to join a country soul band, Phantom Lamb as lead vocalist. They recorded their self-titled debut album in 2008 but the band split up not long after their follow-up, "The Pines" in 2012.

Wasting no time, Yola went to work as a solo artist and eventually released an EP, "Orphan Offering" in 2016. This recording showcase brought her plenty of buzz and to the attention of Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. Shocked that no label hadn't already signed her, he offered Yola the opportunity to record on his label, Eye Sound Records. Auerbach went on to co-write and produce "Walk Through Fire", a collection which displays Yola as a distinctive artist of American roots music with soulful songs filled with heartbreak and survival.

She has gained some big-name admirers like Elton John, Kacey Musgraves (who had Yola as an opening act for her on tour) and Brandi Carlile who made her an honorary member of the all-female, country supergroup, The Highwomen. I admit I was not aware of Yola before but I can now say I am a big fan. Here is a little taste of Yola from her Grammy-nominated album with my favorite song, "Faraway Look", a live version of the track, "It Ain't Easier" and an absolutely incredible cover of John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" which is on the deluxe edition of "Walk Through Fire":