BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn. (May 20, 2025) – You’re invited to explore the complex relationship between country music and the blues with historian and author Dr. Charles L. Hughes as part of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s Speaker Sessions series. The event will be held virtually only, via Zoom at 7 p.m. ET, June 10. Monthly Speaker Sessions are free and open to the public.
“The entwined histories of country and blues reveal not only a profound musical kinship, but also a window into the social, cultural, and racial dynamics that have shaped the United States,” said Museum Director Dr. Rene Rodgers. “This session offers an engaging exploration of that enduring relationship.”
Dr. Hughes is a Professor of History and Urban Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., whose book “Country Soul: Making Music and Race in the American South” was critically acclaimed for its groundbreaking exploration of how race, music, and industry intersected in southern recording studios in the 1960s and 1970s. Drawing on extensive research and interviews, Hughes challenged conventional narratives by revealing the complex collaborations between Black and white musicians in shaping country, soul, and rock music.
For more information on the Speaker Session and to pre-register for the Zoom link, please visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. The video will post later to the website.