What is "black music"?

Truth is, long after the days of Jimi Hendrix, groups of black folk who play rock and roll or punk music exclusively get special attention and trigger a bit of surprise because that is unusual to find on a national level. A former MTV journalist with an exceptionally broad range of musical tastes, Farai Chideya's new novel 'Kiss the Sky' takes you backstage through the lens of a black, alternative/punk rock songstress Sophie Clare Lee:

Sophie Clare Lee isn't your typical rock star. A smart black girl straight out of blue-collar Baltimore who plunged into the privileged Ivy League pool of Harvard, Sophie invented her own brand of cool, becoming lead vocalist of a successful indie rock band, Sky. Source: Press Release, Atria Books

That was then, this is now. Ten years post-Harvard with a rear view of whirlwind yesteryear success with Sky, Sophie is restless as an on-air music vee-jay for The Video Channel. She's on the outside looking in, interviewing countless rock stars and upcoming artists. If they can do it, why can't she? Source: Press Release, Atria Books

I loved 'Kiss the Sky.' While reading it, I felt I had an insider's backstage access to rock and roll life. Chideya puts the good, the bad and all of the in between right there on the page. On Monday, special guest Farai Chideya joined me on 'All About Race on the Radio' at Blogtalkradio.

We had a lot of fun and Farai spoke about a wide range of issues from black rock and roll, to breaking self-destructive patterns and the key to writing a book.You can listen on your computer by clicking this link http://www.blogtalkradio.com/allaboutrace or listen below.

In addition to discussing 'Kiss the Sky,' Farai discussed the art of living a life in art and what's going on in the world at large. As a former MTV journalist, NPR host, and ABC correspondent, Chideya is a great talker (and thinker).

Treat yourself and give a listen.