Michael Smith, assistant teaching professor and area coordinator of jazz studies, The Ohio State University, presents "Inventing Afrofuturist Funk: Sun Ra, Jimi Hendrix, and George Clinton Explore Galaxies Far, Far Away."
Three musicians, along with a few others who inspired them, created an afrofuturistic aesthetic which defined a style of Black music in the '70s that was focused on future sounds. Inspired by science fiction, “MythScience,” and technologically advanced sound sculpting in the recording studio, Sun Ra, Jimi Hendrix, and George Clinton set the tone for music expression derived from the creation of storylines involving extraterrestrial alter-egos and worlds that could, if one allowed, help heal and soothe through music.
Michael Smith has played drums in numerous jazz, soul, rock, country, and polka bands; he has performed as a jazz, rock, and choral ensemble vocalist; he has been an orchestral percussionist; and he has conducted jazz bands, concert bands, and orchestras across the country, including in New York’s famed Carnegie Hall as well as in The Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Mike has been a music educator for more than 40 years, with experiences teaching at every level from kindergarten through university. He has also been an arranger for numerous bands and ensembles, including jazz, rock and pop bands; concert bands and wind ensembles; and marching and basketball bands. Mike enjoys presenting workshops and lectures on American music history in general, and jazz and American popular music in particular. His book In With The In Crowd: Popular Jazz in 1960s Black America was a finalist for the Jazz Journalists Association’s “Book of the Year” award for the year 2024, and his newest book-in-progress is titled Heroes of the Psychic Future: Spaceships, Synthesizers, Sonic Mayhem, and Four Albums From The Afrofuturist Funk Year 1976. Mike is the Director of Jazz Studies at The Ohio State University, where he conducts the Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz Fusion combo, teaches jazz history and jazz education classes.
This lecture is free and open to the public. No ticket required.
Lectures in Music Studies is co-sponsored by The Ohio State University Libraries.
- Lectures are held Mondays at 4 p.m. in the 18th Avenue Library, 175 W. 18th Ave. (Music/Dance Library, second floor, room 205), unless otherwise noted. These events are free and open to the public. Campus visitors, please use either the Tuttle Park Place Garage or the Ohio Union South Garage. All other garages in the vicinity of the 18th Ave. Library are closed to visitors before 4 p.m.
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