B’LACK THEN: Muted Melodies
The Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) invites you to explore their latest exhibition, B’LACK THEN: Muted Melodies. On display at the Archives of Ontario, this special exhibit delves into the untold stories of Black musicians from Ontario.
Spanning over a century, dive into the lives of over 20 artists from across 10 music genres through photographs, albums, newspaper clippings, film screenings, and discussions. Artists featured include gospel music pioneers, Reverend Richard Amos Ball of the Ball Family Jubilee Singers; internationally acclaimed and Canada’s first Black opera singer, Portia White; jazz & blues award-winning singer-songwriter, composer, playwright and actress, Salome Bey; rhythm & blues and transgender performer, Jackie Shane; reggae & ska legend, Jackie Mittoo; classical music composer and arranger, Nathaniel Dett; musician, award-winning writer, playwright, spoken word artist and rapper, Motion and many more.
The exhibition will open at the Archives of Ontario on May 22, 2025 and run until February 27, 2026. The Archives is located at 134 Ian MacDonald Blvd on York University campus and is open weekdays from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
B’LACK THEN: Muted Melodies will also be featured for Toronto’s Doors Open weekend. Steelpan teacher Pat McNeilly, otherwise known as Pan Man Pat, will be performing and presenting the history of the pan. McNeilly was instrumental in establishing the steelpan in Toronto schools and has performed at every Toronto Caribbean Carnival since its 1967 founding.
Different Timbres, by filmmakers Claire Prieto and Roger McTair, will also be screened. The documentary looks at steel drum production and its cultural influence in Ontario in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Archives of Ontario will be open for Doors Open on May 24th from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
“We are really excited to see these untold stories from Ontario’s musical past come to life in our Reading Room,” offers Sean Smith, Senior Manager, Outreach and Education at the Archives of Ontario. It has been such a pleasure working with the Canada Black Music Archives on this exhibit. Their choice of material, including records from our own collection, should provide visitors with an appreciation for the contributions of these artists to Black musical history. We look forward to welcoming new users and communities to the Archives of Ontario and to the opportunity of sharing a bit about the role archives play in preserving and making accessible Ontario’s past.”
As Canada’s first national digital archive dedicated to researching, documenting and preserving the history of Canadian Black artists, the Canada Black Music Archives’ main objective is to shine a light on their hidden and largely unexplored musical contributions.
Executive Director of the CBMA, Phil Vassell says: “This 10-month exhibition of B’LACK THEN: Muted Melodies at the Archives of Ontario marks a major milestone for the Canada Black Music Archives, coming on the heels of our previous exhibit on Toronto’s Hip Hop Culture at the City of Toronto Archives during Black History Month in February, earlier this year. This exhibit at the Archives of Ontario reflects a wider view of multiple music genres featuring Black musicians from across Ontario for over a century.”
From jazz to hip hop, these muted melodies deserve the spotlight and are an essential part of Ontario’s history.
This exhibit is supported in part by Archives of Ontario, and the Toronto Arts Council.
Website: thecbma.com