One Nation Under a Groove

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Day 1 Radio has a dope episode for you to feast on. This week's guest is H. Beecher Hicks III, CEO of the National Museum of African American Music. He is spearheading an effort to build the first and only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and celebrating the accomplishments of the many music genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans. Just in case you were wondering, construction is already underway and he's already raised 75% of the $50 million needed to get it done. Listen in as he gives you more details on what is soon to be a go-to destination. 2:00: Why Nashville? -Why is Nashville aka "Music City" a good fit for an African-American music museum? 4:30: Did the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History inspire this? -Kind of, but Hicks says this has been 20 years in the making. 6:00: Fundraising -Hicks talks about the massive financial support the museum has received. Funding has come from people in 35 states with donations ranging from $5 to six figures. 11:30: Who Is this guy? -Hicks talks about his history in business and music. 14:00: Who does this museum really help? -Hicks breaks down how the museum will not only educate the masses, but benefit musicians as well. 16:00: Inclusion -Hicks explains how non-black people can contribute to a black museum. Don't get it twisted though, this is about black music. 18:00 Who is involved? -Hicks runs off a who's who list of scholars and historians who he feels will get the narrative right. 22:30: Who is handling the Hip Hop portion? -The elephant in the room. Who is going to rep for the Hip Hop culture at the museum? 28:40: What will people see at the grand opening? -Prepare to be blown away. Hicks and his team have a lot in store. Nothing janky here. 33:00 The case for new music in a museum -Hicks says the cutoff year for the initial permanent collection will be 2015. But what comes after that? 35:00: You must learn -We ask Hicks what's one music fact he's learned in building the museum. Hint: It's a good one. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio