Indiana University to Preserve Oral History of Rhythm and Blues Music

The Archives of African-American Music and Culture at Indiana University has received a grant from the Grammy Foundation to digitize more than 300 hours of oral history interviews with legends of rhythm and blues music. Included are many hours of interviews with music legend Ray Charles. When completed the interviews will be available online for researchers.

The interviews, which were recorded as long as 27 years ago, include discussions with vocalists, musicians, producers, promoters, record company executives, and composers. Many of the interviewees have since died.