Philadelphia has an extraordinarily rich and important musical history. From the late eighteenth century, when it was the political and cultural capital of the American colonies, to the present, the city has nurtured numerous ground breaking musical styles and artists and been at the forefront of some of the world’s most significant musical developments. Music historian Jack McCarthy explores some of the highlights of Philadelphia music over the course of the city’s 330+ year history.

Featured are the stories of America’s first song composer, first African American to have his music published, the nation’s first “mega-concert,” great organizations such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia International Records, and Cameo-Parkway Records, and many of the city’s groundbreaking artists in classical music, jazz, gospel, rock n’ roll, rhythm & blues/soul.

First in the Memories and Melodies program series. Purchase the entire series and get the last program for free!

Speakers Bio: Jack McCarthy is a longtime Philadelphia archivist and historian who specializes in Philadelphia music history. Jack has a master’s degree in music history and regularly lectures, writes, and gives walking tours on Philadelphia music. He has
directed or participated in several local music history projects, including serving as consulting archivist/historian for theaward-winning 2013 radio documentary Going Black: The Legacy of Philly Soul Radio and for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2012/2013 Leopold Stokowski centennial celebration. A certified archivist, he has held leadership positions at several
area historical organizations and is currently directing a major archival project for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.