People don't typically think of the "classical" American tradition of country music as being rooted in Blackness - Rissi Palmer is working to change that by spreading the truth of country music's Black origins through her show, "Color Me Country". She joins Scott and Garrett to explore the intersection of race, gender, "classical" and country while highlighting some of the Black women whose names often go unheard in the genre. Scott honors the story of Vivian Strong while helping Garrett unpack Tulsa Opera's latest scandal, and the guys say good riddance to a sexual predator.

Playlist:

perf. Kelli O'Hara - "They Don't Let You in the Opera" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2PBOAbdIcU)

Duke Ellington (perf. Ella Fitzgerald) - "Satin Doll"

Nina Simone - "Mississippi Goddam"

Conni Ellisor - "Blackberry Winter"

Adia Victoria - "South Gotta Change"

Ebony Hillbillies - "Another Man Done Gone (Hands Up Don't Shoot)"

Pras, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mya - "Ghetto Supastar (This is What You Are)"

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton - "Islands in the Stream"

Rissi Palmer - "Seeds"

More:

Downbeat (Grace Lee Boggs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV1YBgANZY8

Disruption. Action. Change.: https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/prjc/disruption-action-change/

Rissi Palmer: https://rissipalmermusic.com

Linda Martell: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/linda-martell-black-country-grand-ole-opry-pioneer-1050432/

Color Me Country on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/curator/color-me-country/1500977601

MET Musicians Accept Deal: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/17/arts/music/met-opera-musicians-deal.html

Vivian's Music, 1969 by Monica Bauer: https://www.originalworksonline.com/viviansmusic1969

Tulsa Opera Removes Composer Daniel Roumain From Concert: https://operawire.com/tulsa-opera-removes-black-composer-from-concert-commemorating-race-massacre-over-one-word/

Darius Rucker on Racism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBzubP1mTBw

The Era of Genius Worship...: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/18/arts/era-genius-worship-must-end-with-james-levine/

"How Convenient is That?": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbbyxlX4ZEk&t=7s