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Michael Smith

In with the In Crowd: Popular Jazz in 1960s Black America

Book Signing

Headshot of Michael Smith with the cover of his book In With the In Crowd: Popular Jazz in 1960s Black America superimposed next to him.

Ohio State Professor and jazz musician Michael Smith launches his new book, which looks into the untold histories of lesser-known popular jazz musicians.

Join Smith to celebrate the launch of his new book, In with the In Crowd: Popular Jazz in 1960s Black America (University Press of Mississippi). The book explores the hidden history of best-selling jazz musicians of the 1960s who were popular in clubs, on the radio, and in record-store sales, but are excluded from most studies of the era. Learn more about musicians like Eddie Harris, Nancy Wilson, Ramsey Lewis, and Jimmy Smith, who helped build and sustain a vibrant, celebratory cultural scene defined by Black pride.
 
After the talk and reading, Smith will sign copies of the new book, which is available for purchase in the Wexner Center Store.

IMAGE CAPTION
From left to right: In With the In Crowd: Popular Jazz in 1960s Black America book cover, Mike Smith; images courtesy of the author.

More about the speaker

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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. Smith has been a music educator for more than 40 years, with experiences teaching at every level from kindergarten through university. The coordinator and area head of Jazz Studies at Ohio State, he conducts the University Jazz Ensemble and the jazz fusion combo, as well as teaching jazz history and jazz education classes. In 2024, Smith received The Ohio State University Distinguished Scholar Award.

LEARNING & PUBLIC PRACTICE PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
American Electric Power Foundation
CoverMyMeds
Huntington

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Ingram-White Castle Foundation
Ohio Arts Council
The Ohio State University Office of Outreach & Engagement
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation

SUPPORT FOR LEARNING & PUBLIC PRACTICE RESIDENCIES PROVIDED BY
Mike and Paige Crane

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Greater Columbus Arts Council
The Wexner Family
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Mellon Foundation
Every Page Foundation
Ohio Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts
CampusParc
Nationwide Foundation
Lois S. and H. Roy Chope Fund of The Columbus Foundation
Ohio State’s Global Arts + Humanities Discovery Theme
The Columbus Foundation
Axium Packaging

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Ohio State Energy Partners
Ohio History Fund/Ohio History Connection
David Crane and Elizabeth Dang
Melissa Gilliam and William Grobman
Rebecca Perry Damsen and Ben Towle

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Michael Smith