British Black music

Last updated August 19, 2025

Extract from the Westminster Tournament Roll probably showing John Blanke, a trumpeter of the 16th century blowing a clarion trumpet. Black Trumpeter at Henry VIII's Tournament CROP.jpg — Extract from the *Westminster Tournament Roll* probably showing John Blanke, a trumpeter of the 16th century blowing a clarion trumpet.

British Black music refers to music of the African diaspora, or music derived from the African diaspora which has been produced in Great Britain regardless of the ethnic background of the musicians.

Awards

Since 1996, the annual British MOBO awards ceremony has honoured achievements in "music of black origin".^[1]

Organisations and events

African Society of Literati, Musicians, and Artists (established in 1897)
Music Of Black Origin Awards
Urban Music Seminar
Black Music Awards (BMA)

Notable contributors to British black music

16th century

John Blanke

18th century

19th century

Fisk Jubilee Singers

References

↑ Horan, Tom (25 September 2003). "MUSIC: How Ms MOBO proved them wrong". The Daily Telegraph . London.
↑ Vinti, Mike (January 29, 2016). "Beyond Grime: Why You Need to be Paying Attention to Britain's Other Rap Scenes". Vice . Retrieved March 1, 2021.

Cotgrove, Mark (2009). From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz. Milton Keynes: AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1438973609.
Dabydeen, David; John Gilmore; Cecily Jones (2008). The Oxford Companion to Black British History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199238941.
de Koningh, Michael; Griffiths, Marc (2003). Tighten up!: The History of Reggae in the UK. London: Sanctuary.
Fryer, Peter (1984). Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain . London: Pluto Press.
McGrady, Richard (1991). Music and Musicians in Early Nineteenth Century Cornwall: World of Joseph Emidy - Slave, Violinist and Composer. Exeter: University of Exeter Press.
Oliver, Paul (1990). Black Music in Britain: Essays on the Afro-Asian Contribution to Popular Music. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Owusu, Kwesi (2000). Black British Culture and Society: A Text Reader. London: Comedia.
Portelli, Tony (2006). The Music Industry Raw: Pirates, Clubs, House and Garage. Milton Keynes: AuthorHouse.
Smith, Steve Alexander (2009). British Black Gospel: The Foundations of This Vibrant UK Sound. Oxford: Monarch Books. ISBN 978-1854248961.
Simons Andrew. Black British Swing: The African Diaspora's Contribution to England's Own Jazz of the 1930s and 1940s. Northway Publications.
Schwartz, Roberta Freund (2007). How Britain Got the Blues: The Transmission and Reception of American Blues Style in the United Kingdom. Aldershot: Ashgate.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Horan, Tom (25 September 2003). "MUSIC: How Ms MOBO proved them wrong". The Daily Telegraph . London.

[2] Vinti, Mike (January 29, 2016). "Beyond Grime: Why You Need to be Paying Attention to Britain's Other Rap Scenes". Vice . Retrieved March 1, 2021.

[1]

[2]

British Black music

Contents

Awards

Genres

Organisations and events

Notable contributors to British black music

16th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

Early 21st century

See also

References

Further reading