“Black American music has such a rich legacy that has been appropriated over and over again without giving many of the originators their due credit and compensation. There has been more effort to enlighten the world to this awful reality, but there is still more work to be done. It continues to generate a devoted following because its authenticity and brilliance cannot be denied.”

Kemp Harris: The America Chronicles

Kemp Harris defies categorization. He is a singer and songwriter, a master weaver of American musical styles. He’s an actor, activist, author, and storyteller, and an award-winning educator who has taught young public school students for more than 40 years. Soulful storyteller, activist artist, and genre-defying musician Kemp Harris will released his long-awaited new album, The America Chronicles (July 4th, 2025). Produced and arranged by renowned bassist and collaborator Freebo, the album was recorded at the iconic FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with a cast of world-class musicians. As a Black, gay man who has lived in America for 72 years, Kemp brings a uniquely personal perspective to his work. He has lived through the pain of segregation, the hope of the civil rights era, the confusion of the Vietnam War draft, and the ongoing struggle to reconcile the promise of America with its reality. His music doesn’t preach - it reflects. It tells stories, sharpened through decades of lived experience. Born in segregated Edenton, North Carolina, and transplanted to Massachusetts, Kemp has embraced music as a form of witnessing, reflecting, and reaching out. His songs blend the raw roots of American folk, soul, blues, and jazz, guided by the music and activism of artists like Donny Hathaway, Joni Mitchell, and Bill Withers.

(Kemp Harris / Photo by Jim Shea)

Kemp’s powers of observation and his gift for shining a light on the modern world have only deepened over a lifetime devoted to the most basic and profound of pursuits: human connection. "At the end of the day," Kemp says, "I'm an old Black man telling stories and spreading love." The America Chronicles is a powerful reflection of that journey. Years in the making, the album confronts the beauty, contradictions, and complexity of this country with clarity, compassion, and soul. It’s not just a collection of songs - it’s a witness account, an offering, and an invitation to listen. Kemp’s powers of observation, his unique gift for shining a light on the modern world and what it means to be alive, have only deepened over a lifetime devoted to the most basic and profound of pursuits: human connection. 

Interview by Michael Limnios        Special Thanks: Kemp Harris, Geraint & Deb Jones

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

The first voice I ever heard was that of my mother. As a child, I was drawn to music early. I learned to play piano by ear and was really proud of myself when I learned to play “Let It Be” by the Beatles. I wrote a piece for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater called “If Loneliness Was Black”. I attended the premier at City Center in NYC. I stood on stage with the dancers for a company bow. I’ve had many great moments, but that one stands out for me. I’ve had many great moments and have been brought to tears by the power of music. I am grateful for them all.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

I have a hard time putting my music into any one category. Instead, a convergence of R&B, Folk and Gospel is indicative of what I do. My influences include such artists as Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, Donny Hathaway and Stephen Sondheim to create my sound. There is a little bit of every singer I’ve admired inside of me. I just sit back and let them come out.                                 (Kemp Harris / Photo by Jim Shea)

”I witnessed the turbulence of the civil rights movement, the war in Vietnam, the expansion of rights and strides towards equality, progressive politics, the backlash against that progress, and so much more. Music was always a part of the work of trying to make our country a better nation.“

Currently you’ve one release with Freebo at the FAME studio. How did that relationship and idea come about?

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album? I was at the 2023 NERFA (North East Regional Folk Alliance) Conference in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Freebo saw me perform a showcase at "The Stone Pony", which is Bruce Springsteen's home territory. Freebo came up to me after my performance and said that it was great and that he'd love to take me to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record at Fame Studio. I didn't know who he was, so I asked him if he played. His response was, "I play a little". That was an understatement. We had a good laugh about it. We worked it out and a year later, we spent a week at Fame Studio, where Freebo produced and arranged the record. I got to work with some of the best musicians Muscle Shoals and Nashville had to offer. It was an amazing experience. I was aware that my music was politically and socially challenging, particularly at this time in America's current condition. I appreciated that we were there to make the music, not judge each other’s views. Once we hit the studio, it was all about the music. That’s what was important.

Why do you think that the Black American music legacy continues to generate such a devoted following?

So much music comes from Black Americans. Recognition and credit of the origins of folk, blues, gospel, jazz has long been subject to being, for lack of a better word, stolen. Black American music has such a rich legacy that has been appropriated over and over again without giving many of the originators their due credit and compensation. There has been more effort to enlighten the world to this awful reality, but there is still more work to be done. It continues to generate a devoted following because its authenticity and brilliance cannot be denied.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

As a child, I was exposed to so many styles and genres of music. From folk, blues, soul, rock, opera, bluegrass, jazz, choral music, house music, country…I took it all in to become the artist I am today. In the past, it felt like there was a more “rogue” and random approach as to how artists were discovered and nurtured. Music seems to be more “prescribed” and packaged now. I would like to see music shared and promoted with less emphasis on algorithms and more on merit, whatever the genre.

”I’ve learned that music has the power to make change in the lives of those who listen.”

(Photo: Kemp Harris)

What is the impact of music on the civil rights and socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

I was born in 1952 in a segregated town in North Carolina. I witnessed the turbulence of the civil rights movement, the war in Vietnam, the expansion of rights and strides towards equality, progressive politics, the backlash against that progress, and so much more. Music was always a part of the work of trying to make our country a better nation. As a black, gay man living in America, I feel compelled to share my perspective. I do not “preach”, but rather reflect my point of view. I feel that, as an artist, that is my charge. My writing is meant to allow listeners to look at this world through a lens they might not have considered before. I do not write from the position of victim, because I refuse to be one. I tell stories and hope people will listen.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

I’ve learned that music has the power to make change in the lives of those who listen. I’ve learned that, as a composer, I cannot predict what listeners come away with, but telling stories and sharing truth is important, now more than ever. The impact of music for change has spanned hundreds, thousands of years. Music that expresses the state of the world has affected movements and minds and will continue to do so. The world we live in demands it.

John Coltrane said "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am...". How do you understand the spirit, music, and the meaning of life?

I am an artist. I write, not because I want to, but because I have to. I think there are so many ways to express gratitude, hope and love… music happens to be mine. The arts, whatever form they take, make us better people. I feel sad for those who cannot see the value of being open to the good, the joy and the uniting that art allows us to share. One of my simplest, yet greatest achievements is the work that I accomplished as a Kindergarten teacher for 38 years. It’s good to know that I’ve have been a positive influence in the lives of so many children I’ve taught over the years. Introducing and sharing music was an important part of that Kindergarten experience. I was able to take something good, and pass it on.

Kemp Harris - Home

(Photo: Kemp Harris)