Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation

A beacon of cultural preservation, historical research, and community awareness, Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation (JDBHPF) is dedicated to the documentation, archiving, and celebration of African American Traditional Music and the Black Experience.

Founded in 2011 and officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) Private Operating Foundation on December 14, 2016, JDBHPF was born from the vision of Lamont Jack Pearley and Denise Pearley, who recognized the urgent need to raise cultural and ethnic awareness of African American Traditional Music and its profound influence on American history. Through meticulous research and educational programming, the foundation traces the roots of what we define as Blues People (Black American) Tribal Music—a profound cultural expression shaped by Black American, Afro-Indigenous, and the melanated diaspora’s shared histories, traditions, and lived experiences.

Jack Dappa Blues Media Initiatives

Through Jack Dappa Blues Media Initiatives, the foundation produces public broadcasts, films, and programming that serve as a vital hub for intellectual discourse, historical documentation, and essential storytelling surrounding the African American experience. Our work is intentionally designed for the layperson and the broader community, functioning as an incubator space that bridges academic thought and community practice. This also includes the creation and distribution of The African American Folklorist magazine and platform, which provides a dedicated space for scholarship, cultural narratives, and Black folklore traditions. Through original content, public workshops, and community events, we strive to cultivate a more diverse and inclusive media landscape that accurately represents Black heritage and traditions.

Our approach is deeply rooted in broadcast journalism, film, multimedia production, the interdisciplinary fields of Folklore Studies and Ethnomusicology, and the study of soundscapes and cultural landscapes. These academic and cultural disciplines provide a framework for our storytelling, research, and curriculum development, ensuring an authentic representation of the lived traditions, oral histories, and musical expressions of Black communities. Additionally, we maintain an extensive archive and repository of collected materials, oral histories, and interviews, capturing not only the voices and stories of Black communities but also their sonic landscapes and environmental soundscapes, which shape and inform cultural memory, identity, and artistic expression.

One of our flagship productions, Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Radio, serves as a dynamic platform for both historical and contemporary discussions. Through in-depth analysis and dialogue, we explore how literature and scholarship reflect the Blues, examining the definitions, meanings, and evolving styles of Black traditional music expressions across the Americas. Rooted in the insights from our ongoing Sunday night live broadcasts, we analyze the interplay between historical texts, academic research, and the lived experiences of Black musicians and communities, fostering deep, thought-provoking conversations that bridge past and present. Our programming:

• Showcases African American Traditional Music, from early Black Spirituals to pre-war Blues.
• Highlights today’s practitioners and cultural bearers of this rich musical lineage.
• Tackles critical and often overlooked topics related to the African American experience—past and present.
• Creates an interactive space where oral traditions, music, and community narratives come to life.

By providing the historical and cultural context of African American traditions, Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Radio ensures that the lived experiences, social environments, soundscapes, and cultural landscapes of Black communities across time are preserved and amplified.

Our Mission

Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation is committed to:

• Developing plans for cultural and program sustainability to support communities and their organizations in preserving and continuing their traditions.
• Encouraging and informing individuals on how to document and preserve family and communal traditions, ensuring that oral histories, musical legacies, and cultural practices remain accessible to future generations.
• Promoting the learning and performance of Black American Traditional Musics, ensuring that the knowledge, techniques, and cultural significance of these art forms are passed down to future generations.
  Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation is committed to:
• Celebrating our heritage and preserving the legacy of Blues music.
• Highlighting pivotal moments in American history that have shaped Black communities and their artistic expressions.
• Educating and informing the public about the living history of Blues People (Black American) Tribal Music and the Black experience.
• Promoting African American literacy and literature through our programs, events, and media content.
• Introducing audiences to lesser-known African American history makers who are often left out of mainstream narratives and educational curricula.
• Demonstrating the direct connections between these historical figures and the traditional music reflected in their works.

Our Impact

For too long, African American history and Black music have been reduced to mere soundtracks of struggle, rather than being recognized as cultural responses to societal shifts. At Jack Dappa Blues, we challenge this narrow perspective by placing Blues People (Black American) Tribal Music in its proper historical context. These musical traditions are not just reflections of hardship but are dynamic, living narratives that reveal how Black communities have evolved, adapted, and influenced the broader cultural landscape.

Through research, storytelling, and community engagement, we continue to uplift the voices of past and present Black artists, scholars, and tradition bearers, ensuring that African American folklore, music, and history remain an integral part of our collective consciousness.

Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation: Where Tradition Lives, History Speaks, and Culture Thrives.

Advisory Board:

Ryan Dearbone
Nick Spitzer
Marquise Knox