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Archive: 2023 (35 Posts)

Early Hip-Hop at the Library of Congress

Posted by: Heather Darnell

August 2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Hip-Hop, said to have begun in 1973 at a little South-Bronx party hosted by DJ Kool Herc. But years before Herc introduced New York to the breakbeat, African-American music and spoken-word traditions had been brewing in the great social unrest of the 60s and 70s  to create a …

Wet Ink Ensemble in performance

Concerts from the Library of Congress: Announcing the Fall 2023 Season

Posted by: David Plylar

We are very excited to announce the fall 2023 Concerts from the Library of Congress events. We are grateful to all of the people who worked to get the Coolidge Auditorium ready for action again in time for our fall concerts, and we are crossing our fingers that these unexpected challenges are all behind us! …

Red, White & Royal Love Song

Posted by: Heather Darnell

The following is a guest post by Music Division Assistant Chief, Nicholas Brown. In honor of this Saturday’s National Book Festival, the Music Division is pleased to share a page-to-screen tidbit relating to the new romantic comedy film “Red, White & Royal Blue” (Prime, 2023) that is being released on August 11, 2023. Based on …

Jo Stafford fixes her hair in a mirror, an assortment of beauty products and perfumes in front of her.

Performing Arts Reading Room Website gets a Makeover!

Posted by: Heather Darnell

Hey, everyone! The Performing Arts Reading Room website has undergone a makeover. Our streamlined design is more accessible, mobile-friendly, and responsive — making it easy for researchers to find the information they need while discovering new resources. Here are just a few highlights: A simple landing page directing researchers to our various services and resources …

Ven a Bailar Bachata!

Posted by: Claudia Morales

By Claudia Morales Concert Producer, Music Division The Library of Congress is joining the Bachata dance craze and is hosting a free bachata class for all levels. On Thursday, August 3, professional dancer, choreographer, and studio owner Julissa Cruz will team up with DJ Hercules to lead a fantastic Bachata night. The class will take …

Still from video on "The Little Mermaid featuring Janet McKinney behind display.

Part of His World: The Little Mermaid in the Papers of Howard Ashman

Posted by: Morgen Stevens-Garmon

The following is a guest post from Music Division Archivist Janet McKinney. To watch Janet discuss Howard Ashman’s influence on “The Little Mermaid,” check out this video on the Library of Congress’s YouTube channel. The recent live-action remake of the Disney classic The Little Mermaid (1989) inspires those of us who preserve our cultural history …