I’m very excited to announce the launch of bullcitysoul.org, a project with roots tracing back more than a decade to my last semester as an undergraduate: In the spring of 2003, I began making the short trek from Chapel Hill, NC to Durham, NC to visit with musicians who had played in ‘70s soul bands like the Communicators & Black Experiences, Duracha, Johnny White & the Mighty Crusaders, and the Modulations. Over time, a vibrant image developed of what was once a thriving soul music scene in Durham. In 2011, with help from Joshua Clark Davis, Lincoln Hancock, and many others, we shared these discoveries through the Soul Souvenirs gallery exhibit of the Bull City Soul Revival project. Now we’ve enhanced Soul Souvenirs and turned it into the Bull City Soul website.
This work would have been impossible without Josh and Linc, but most importantly, the three of us wish to thank the countless musicians of Durham whose creativity offers us continual inspiration. We hope that in some small way we’re able to share the stories of their music with audiences old and new alike.
This is the story of R&;B, funk, and soul music in Durham, North Carolina, also known as the Bull City. But Bull City Soul isn't just about music–it's a history of black cultural life and community in the urban South.
Recommended Comments