© 2023 Public Radio East
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 88.5 WHYC Swan Quarter 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Greenville residents can now listen to PRE News & Ideas on 89.9 FM

African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina celebrates musicians of the region

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston-Riggs
Published November 2, 2022 at 9:58 AM EDT
The African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina is now under the stewardship of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. North Carolina was one of the first states in the nation to celebrate its music heritage by researching and developing music trails.
(Logo: African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina)
The African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina is now under the stewardship of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. North Carolina was one of the first states in the nation to celebrate its music heritage by researching and developing music trails.

The African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina is now under the stewardship of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission.

North Carolina was one of the first states in the nation to celebrate its music heritage by researching and developing music trails.

Officials with the North Carolina Arts Council say they developed the trails 2013 to celebrate some of the most transformative figures in the history of jazz, gospel, and popular music.

For at least a century, African American musicians from Kinston and the surrounding region have played key roles in the development of several forms of American music: jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, and gospel music.

The cultural trail also includes The Kinston Music Park, which was dedicated in 2014 to celebrate the important contributions of eastern North Carolina musicians.

Annette Weston-Riggs
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. She has been involved in the media industry in eastern North Carolina for more than three years. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to ENC to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of toddler and baby cuddling, reading, designing costumes for children’s theater and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston-Riggs