Using rare photos, videos, recorded music samples, and live performance, Dr. Conforth traces how the roots of American music developed and how they would both influence and create country, jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and the main genres of American popular music.  This musical journey takes us through issues of race, gender, socio-cultural politics, and many interesting and informative sidebars of American cultural history.  The story of roots music is the story of America itself.

Bruce Conforth is the founding curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his new book is “African American Folksong and American Cultural Politics.”

Please check the OLLI web site for additional lectures in the series "American Music: How Did We Get Here?" Thursdays, October 30 - December 11.