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The Documentary Podcast

Black Roots: DeFord Bailey and country music in Nashville

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.32.6K Ratings

🗓️ 16 November 2022

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Musician Rhiannon Giddens explores the home of country music in Nashville to see how black people shaped this genre. How black is Nashville and its music history? Rhiannon uncovers the story of one of the biggest stars of the early country era: the African American ‘Harmonica Wizard’ DeFord Bailey. He was one of the most beloved performers at the Grand Ole Opry and the first black star of the radio age.

Transcript

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0:00.0

My Indian Life is back for season 3.

0:02.6

The podcast that explores what it means to be young and Indian in the 21st century.

0:07.2

With guests from all walks of life,

0:09.2

Singing is a part of storytelling for me.

0:11.1

I need to tell my story to the world.

0:12.8

And from all across this huge country.

0:15.0

So as a tribe, we are not mere part of nature, but we are nature,

0:19.8

each with a story to tell.

0:21.3

Winning the gold medal in Paralympics was a dream.

0:24.0

That's Kalki presents My Indian Life from the BBC World Service.

0:27.6

Just search for My Indian Life wherever you found this podcast.

0:34.3

We're on the corner of 5th and Brock.

0:39.2

And this is the tourist destination in Nashville, Tennessee.

0:43.4

And most people freak out because they've never seen a place

0:46.3

that you can walk from bar to bar and there's no cover charge.

0:50.0

I think that's a little bit of a southern hospitality, you know.

0:55.1

Alright, let's go this way.

0:56.5

Frankie Staten is one of the few African American country performers

1:00.2

in Nashville today.

1:01.9

She's also the co-founder of the Black Country Music Association.

1:05.9

Well, this has changed so much in my years in Nashville.

1:08.7

I've been here 41 years and I've seen everything change.

...

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