Types of Music

Graniteville Military Band, 1905. The band played on special occasions at the gazebo pavilion in the Gregg Park Civic Center. Courtesy of the Gregg-Graniteville Library, University of South Carolina Aiken. South Carolina is home to many different music styles, from jazz to gospel to our distinctive beach music sounds.

• Beach Music
• Southern African American Music
• Appalachian Music
• Charleston Jazz Musicians
• SC Blues

Jenkins Orphanage Band

The Jenkins Orphanage, an African-American orphanage in Charleston, started a brass band in the last 1890s to tour northern states for gaining funds. By the 1920s, there were 5 different bands touring the United States.

• History of the Jenkins Orphanage Band
• Another History
• Images of the Jenkins Institute for Children

Contemporary Music

Darius Rucker. Image by flickr user BOBXNC Learn about music that is currently being written and performed in South Carolina.

• Southern Artistry
  Learn about contemporary SC artists, musicians, and writers.
• Benedict College Gospel Choir
  Watch videos from this nationally acclaimed, award-winning gospel.
• SC Soundtrack
  What would –you- put on a soundtrack about South Carolina? Find out what one collection looks like!

Music From A Chain Gang, 1939

Listen to singing from convicts in Anderson County, South Carolina.

• Ain't No Heaven on de County Road
• The Gospel Train
• Hell Down Yonder
• Po' Laz'us

Famous South Carolina Musicians & Singers

Meet performers that have lived in South Carolina and are now known across the country.

• James Brown (1933-2006)
  Singer, songwriter, and dancer that has been called "The Godfather of Soul" (born in Barnwell, SC)
  • Listen to a selection of James Brown’s most popular top 10 hits
  • Listen to James Brown in Concert
• Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993)
  Jazz trumpeter and major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz (born in Cheraw, SC)
  • Listen to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, "Salt Peanuts" (Windows Media Player format)
  • Listen to an audio sample of "Hot House"
• Eartha Kitt (1927-2008)
  Actress, singer, and cabaret star (born in North, SC)
  • Listen to Earth Kitt music session
• Bill Pinkney (1925-2007)
  Member of the R&B group, The Drifters and influential in the beach music scene (born in Dalzell, SC)
  • Watch video "A Conversation with Bill Pinkney"
• Darius Rucker (1966- )
  Lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish. The band was formed at USC in Columbia (born in Charleston, SC).
  • Watch interview with Darius Rucker