Blacks

 

CNN - Black country music artists, often overlooked despite their essential contributions to the genre, have been getting more attention recently. That's thanks in part to the success of Beyoncé’s newest album, “Cowboy Carter,” and the rise of artists like Nigerian American singer Shaboozey. Now, it's time to meet Dusty & Stones. Cousins Gazi “Dusty” Simelane and Linda “Stones” Msibi grew up working together on their grandparents’ farm in rolling southern hills. The duo’s grandfather was a pastor who played the harmonica in his youth and taught them the values of patience and hard work. However, this good old country origin story took place in their hometown of Mooihoek, in the tiny African country of Eswatini (formerly called Swaziland). How did they end up connecting with American country music? Two words: Dolly Parton. Seriously! Dusty says when he first heard the works of people like Parton and Donny Williams, he recognized himself in their ballads of small-town life. Read the whole story here.