On Tuesday, February 25, The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) hosted a celebration of the rich musical history of Huntsville and the surrounding area.

The free event was produced in partnership with UAH, the Huntsville Music Office, and Downtown Huntsville, Inc.

The event opened with performances by UAH piano student Avery St. Julian and the UAH Chamber Choir. The musical selection featured African American composers.

Following the performances, the audience heard from two local experts in the history of Huntsville’s music scene.

First up was William Hampton, a well-known local historian who is the founder of Huntsville Revisited Museum and administrator of the Facebook page “Huntsville Revisited”.

Hampton gave a brief history of a few dozen musicians and music producers with ties to Huntsville. Some were surprisingly big names in music, while others were better known in their specific genres.

A number of these musical pioneers were born in the area.

W.C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues”, was born in Florence, Alabama and taught music at what is now Alabama A&M University.

Entertainer Will Mastin was born in Madison, Alabama. Mastin helped launch the career of his nephew, Sammy Davis, Jr.

Others, like Little Richard, came to Oakwood University or Alabama A&M University to study.

The next speaker was Codie Gopher, a Huntsville native and student of popular culture with over two decades of experience in the local music industry.

Gopher spoke about the history of Huntsville’s vibrant hip-hop scene.

Huntsville’s hip-hop scene has been active since the genre’s early days, and the city has never lacked managers, studios, producers, clubs and promotional opportunities for hip-hop, according to Gopher.

The Huntsville native also focused on his conviction that Huntsville can thrive on the national and global music stage.

In 2010, Gopher booked a group that he managed on a Scandinavian tour, proving that independent Huntsville music production has a place internationally.

Gopher emphasized the historical interrelatedness of people and talent that continue to contribute to the area’s strong and thriving force in the music industry.

“I always tell people that Huntsville is a place that has influenced the world, and most people don’t know it”, said Gopher.

William Hampton is a community advocate who is involved in a number of projects. He serves on the boards of the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, the Scottsboro Boys Museum, and the Huntsville Historical Society.

Codie Gopher helped curate the Alabama Music Hall of Fame’s first hip hop exhibit. He is a member of the Huntsville Music Board, a music manager, and proponent of music education.