Rose Marie McCoy overcame racism, sexism, and poverty to become one of the most prolific and diverse songwriters of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. Her songwriting career is one of the longest ever; her first song was recorded in 1947 and her last in 2013.

"I don't know of any other songwriter with the kind of track record Rose Marie McCoy has," said Al Bell, former owner off Stax Records and past president of Motown Records Group. "Her songs have been recorded by so many legendary artists in such a diversity of styles: blues, jazz, rock, rhythm & blues, country, pop, gospel. It's mind boggling what she has done."

So here's Rose telling a bit of her story, singing a little, and describing how she operated as an independent songwriter back in the day.

All popular music known around the world as  American music has roots in Africa. 

New Podcast Episode

When West Africans were forced to leave their land in order to help create wealth in a strange and distant land, they left so much behind.  But not all could be taken from them. Not  their music and not their dance.  Ever since emancipation, American created social dances have been influenced by African dance.  From the Fox Trot to Break Dancing and many styles in between, you'll find African influence.