Asante Art Institute In September 1990, storyteller and performance artist Deborah Asante started the African American Children’s Theatre, a community-based performing arts group.… Read More »Asante Art Institute
David Nathaniel Baker (Dec. 21, 1931 – Mar. 29, 2016). Born in Indianapolis, David Baker was an extraordinarily accomplished American jazz composer, conductor,… Read More »David Nathaniel Baker
James Franklin Baskett (Feb. 16, 1904-July 9, 1948). James Franklin Baskett was born in Indianapolis and attended Arsenal Technical High School. Though he… Read More »James Franklin Baskett
Francis (Scrapper) Blackwell (Feb. 21, 1903-Oct. 7, 1962). Born in Syracuse, South Carolina, Francis (Scrapper) Blackwell arrived in Indianapolis at age three and… Read More »Francis (Scrapper) Blackwell
Blues The African American originated folk music form known as “the blues” became popular in Indianapolis after World War I with… Read More »Blues
Leroy Carr (Mar. 27, 1905-Apr. 28, 1935). The most popular male blues musician of his day, Leroy Carr was born in Nashville,… Read More »Leroy Carr
James R. Coe (Mar. 20, 1921-Feb. 26, 2004). James R. Coe was born James R. West in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. William McKinley Coe adopted… Read More »James R. Coe
Composers Even though Indianapolis is not known as a music center, it has been home to several noteworthy 20th-century composers, especially… Read More »Composers
Drag Performances and Venues Indianapolis’ contemporary drag scene traces its roots to the 1960s. However, drag queens, who were originally called female impersonators, could… Read More »Drag Performances and Venues
Hampton Family The Hampton Family is an African American family of jazz musicians whose individual members and various ensemble configurations have contributed… Read More »Hampton Family
