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Research and writing leading to publication of a book about African American reception of the Beatles, from the late 1960s to the present.

Blackbird Singing: Black America Remixes the Beatles presents a cultural history of African-Americans’ musical conversations with the Beatles from the late 1960s to today. To date, no academic or trade book has offered a comprehensive view of this particular interracial dialogue, which informs the story of American popular music, especially mid-twentieth century rock ‘n’ roll, and, broadly, the study of American culture. My historically situated close readings show how black artists are simultaneously listeners and creators, because ignoring their roles as audiences in the global economy of the music marketplace marginalizes them in the cultural history of American popular song. Blackbird Singing is also unique in its transdisciplinary and multi-genre investigation of American music from the 1960s to today, which makes the monograph relevant to diverse and multigenerational readers in the reading public, as well as scholars and students of culture, music, and history.