Today marks the first day of Black History Month! To kick off the celebration, we’ve put together an hour-and-a-half mix...

Today marks the first day of Black History Month! To kick off the celebration, we’ve put together an hour-and-a-half mix of some of the most spectacular tracks made by Black North Carolinians. Spanning time periods, regions, and styles, this music is a testament to the resilience and invention of its creators. Track list (with NC-affiliation noted) below and link in bio: enjoy! Parliament: “Fantasy is Reality” (George Clinton: Kannapolis) Nina Simone: “Obeah Woman” (Tryon) MAVI: “The Sky is Quiet” (Charlotte) Cordae: “Have Mercy” (Raleigh/Zebulon) Billy Strayhorn: “Lush Life” (Hillsborough) Tre. Charles: “Lately.” (Durham) J. Cole: “No Role Models” (Fayetteville) Luci: “11:11” (Charlotte/Asheville) The Veldt: “Soul in a Jar (Jesus and Mary Chain remix)” (Chapel Hill) Maceo Parker: “Soul Power '74” (Kinston) Communicators and Black Experience Band: “The Road” (Durham) Little Brother & Strange Fruit Project: “The Healing” (Durham) Rapsody and Erykah Badu: “3:AM” (Snow Hill) Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway: “Be Real Black for Me” (Asheville) The Shirelles: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” (Shirley Reeves: Goldsboro; Doris Jackson: Henderson) Carolina Chocolate Drops: “Mahalla” (Durham) Blind Boy Fuller: “Step It Up & Go” (Durham) Rev. Gary Davis: “I Am the Light” (Durham) Elizabeth Cotten: “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie” (Carrboro) Thelonious Monk: “Bemsha Swing” (Rocky Mount) Modern Jazz Quartet: “One Bass Hit” (Percy Heath: Wimington) Mary Lou Williams: “Virgo” (Duke, Durham) Max Roach: “Absolution” (Township of Newland) John Coltrane: “Naima” (High Point)