Roots of American Music

Educate, Create, Facilitate

This show examines our shared American experience from a variety of perspectives and seeks to tell captivating stories of people, places, and events with a focus on live performance.

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Latest Episode

The Akron Heritage Music Project: Episode 2 - Akron Jazz and Howard Street - The Howard Street Shuffle

Host Clint Holley compares interviews with Joe Mosbrook and Theron Brown in order to tell the story of the rich Jazz history found in Akron , Ohio. Hear stories about historic Howard Street, The Hotel Matthews as well as what is happening in Akron now with events such as The Rubber City Jazz and Blues Festival.

Recent Episodes

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The Akron Heritage Music Project: Episode 1 - The G.A.R. Hall - The Building Blocks of Akron

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The G.A.R. Hall is a building block of the Northeast Ohio musical scene. Musical Guest Rachel Brown
Listen to The Akron Heritage Music Project: Episode 1 - The G.A.R. Hall - The Building Blocks of Akron

The Pandemic Tapes: Episode 5 - Kyle Kidd

ROAM teaching artist and activator of spaces, Kyle Kidd talks about the challenges artists are facing as the corona virus pandemic lingers on but shares and upbeat outlook as artists overcome challenges in order to continue creating.
Listen to The Pandemic Tapes: Episode 5 - Kyle Kidd

The Pandemic Tapes: Episode 4 - Kevin Richards

Join Roots of American Music's Artistic Director Kevin T. Richards as he discusses the struggles of leading a nonprofit arts organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new ways that ROAM is bringing music to its audiences.
Listen to The Pandemic Tapes: Episode 4 - Kevin Richards

The Pandemic Tapes: Jason Meyers

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Jason Meyers, another popular local musician and ROAM teaching artist, talks about how his life has changed: cancelled gigs, his day job as a hospital therapy program coordinator and father to a newborn.
Listen to The Pandemic Tapes: Jason Meyers

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More about Roots of American Music

ROAM was created in 1999 to provide arts programming to the community using traditional American music as a way to connect students to our past. Today ROAM provides arts-integrated programs to diverse communities while promoting and preserving traditional American music -- old-time country, folk, gospel, blues, and early rock -- to enhance educational outcomes and enrich people's lives. ROAM’s programs use traditional American music to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds meet wider goals in education or personal development. Literacy, math, science, self-determination, tolerance, and music enrichment are some of the themes ROAM teaching artists incorporate into music workshops and residencies.

For more information, please visit their website.