Black musicians are a vital part of the past, present and future of rock and roll. At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, their stories are told year round in our exhibits and programs. In celebration of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting new exhibit features, footage from our vault, playlists, and more.
NEW ON EXHIBIT: Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino

Our latest addition to the Pioneers gallery will celebrate the 70th anniversary of “I Hear You Knocking” and “Ain’t That a Shame,” two seminal R&B hits, created by Inductees Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino. The latter song, which reached Number One on the Billboard R&B chart, was also one of the first crossover hits, climbing to Number 10 on the pop chart.
The collaboration of singer-songwriter and pianist Fats Domino and trumpeter, producer, composer, and arranger Dave Bartholomew resulted in some of the most important and enduring records of the rock era, while introducing the world to the sound of New Orleans. Other Domino & Bartholomew songs include “Blue Monday” and “I’m Walkin’.” Domino was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1986; Bartholomew was inducted in 1991.
Featured Event

Feb 27
Film Series: Purple Rain
Learn about the story of a struggling musician deals with his family and his new love interest against the backdrop of Minneapolis nightclubs, starring 2004 Inductee, Prince.
Inductee Spotlights
Explore featured stories and ceremony highlights from recent Inductee classes.
Sounds of Black History
Take a deep dive into the sounds of Black history by listening to our curated playlists on the Rock Hall’s Spotify.
Featured Artifacts

If you wanted an R&B sax, King Curtis was your man. That saxophone found a place in rock & roll history is almost exclusively due to the ferocity of the contributions made by King Curtis, to a host of barn-burning singles in the late 1950s, when he played sideman to Inductees, the Coasters, and numerous others, from Aretha Franklin to Buddy Holly, John Lennon and more. Curtis was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2000.
LOCATION: R&B case, Roots, Ahmet Ertegun Gallery, Level 0
The Supremes – Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard – were the most commercially successful of Black-owned record label Motown’s acts, with 12 of the group’s singles peaking at Number One. At their peak in the mid-1960s, the Supremes rivaled the Beatles in worldwide popularity, and their success paved the way for fellow Motown artists and Black artists in general to achieve mainstream success. The Supremes were inducted into the Rock Hall in 1988.
LOCATION: Detroit case, Cities and Sounds, Ahmet Ertegun Gallery, Level 0

Rock Hall EDU Featured Collections
Our online and onsite educational programs offer a comprehensive look at the influence and impact of Black artists throughout the decades. Here’s a sneak preview of the collections that teachers can use to bring these stories to life in the classroom.
Not since the early days of rock & roll has an African American-driven cultural art form taken such a strong hold on mainstream American society as hip-hop. Use this collection to explore some of the top hip-hop names and Rock Hall Inductees over the style’s first 50 years! These stories are powerful, honest, and inspiring.


This collection showcases assets that guide learners in understanding popular music’s role in furthering the goals of the Civil Rights Movement, developing the aesthetic of Afrofuturism, and celebrating examples of Black Excellence in musicianship, songwriting, and entrepreneurship.