LISTEN LIVE • Sundays 11am- 1pm EST/8am - 10 am pst • jazz88.org
About the Show
Sepia Voices began as a way to honor the great African American vocalists within the Jazz & Blues genres that have shaped American music as we know it today. I’ll be sharing stories, anecdotes, and rare recordings from my personal collection from some of the most iconic Black voices and some that you’ve never heard, but will never forget.
As a jazz drummer, historian, and educator, it’s my hope that you’ll be inspired to learn and seek out more of these artists and others like them. It’s also my hope that the music on these shows will put a smile on your face and lift your spirits during these trying times.
Happy Listening. Be Safe. Be Well.
-Kenny Washington
Sample episodes
The History behind Sepia Voices
Sepia is a brownish gray to dark olive-brown color.
In 1940, Decca records used this word to describe their new series of recordings featuring African American artists. Referring to their skin color, they called it the “Sepia Series”, a softer, exotic term that disguised what was known as “Race Records”. It was a marketing strategy directed towards the African American communities nation wide.
Their stellar artist roster included such greats as Louis Jordan, Buddy Johnson, Art Tatum, Lionel Hampton and others. In some parts of the country, white owned record shops were slow to carry these records.
Before long, due in part to radio airplay, white audiences were clamoring for these artists. This also included other African American artists on other record labels. By 1942, Decca phased out the Sepia Series.
With radio airplay, the popularity of these artists soared and exposed white audiences not only to Decca Records artists, but other African American artists on other record labels as well. The success of records like these helped break down ethnic lines.
