Students at Easton Elementary Learn More about North Carolina's Rich Musical Heritage

The organization Carolina Music Ways teaches students about our music history through a show called “Carolina Live! – Our Musical History” and, on Thursday, the show came to Easton Elementary School.

By the time it was done, students had learned about – and heard – Moravian music, gospel, jazz, bluegrass and rhythm & blues (R&B).

One point the people in the program made is that North Carolina has been – and is – home to many significant musicians, and that, in many instances, they either lived in Winston-Salem or had strong ties to the city. 

For instance, the members of the R&B group the “5 Royales" were from Winston-Salem, and, although gospel singer Shirley Caesar, lived in Durham, she regularly came to Winston-Salem to sing at the church where her uncle was the minister.

And, of course, the Moravian musicians were in Salem. When George Washington came to Salem, he was greeted by the Moravian band.