The Society of Black Composers
*The Society of Black Composers (SBC) is celebrated on this date in 1968. It was an African American composer collective.
The SBC began in New York City. The collective hosted several concerts showcasing the works of Black composers. Members of the Society have made significant contributions to American musical culture, including contemporary jazz, classical music, and television and film music. Its members included notable names, such as Jazz musicians David Baker, Marion Brown, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, and Oliver Nelson.
The society's stated goal was "to provide a permanent forum for the exposure of Black Composers, their works and their thoughts; to collect and disseminate information related to Black Composers and their activities; and to enrich the cultural life of the community at large."
Professional concert composers joined their rank, including Noel Da Costa and Frederick Tillis, as well as Kermit Moore, Talib Rasul Hakim, William S. Fischer, Carman Moore, Dorothy Rudd Moore, John Elwood Price, Alvin Singleton, Roger Dickerson, Primous Fountain, James Furman, Adolphus Hailstork, Wendell Logan, and Olly Wilson. SBC dissolved in 1973. The University of Chicago holds its archive.
