Kemp Harris - The America Chronicles (2025)

As a Black, gay man who has lived in this country for 72 years, Kemp brings a uniquely personal perspective to his work. He has lived through the pain of segregation, the hope of the civil rights era, the confusion of the Vietnam War draft, and the ongoing struggle to reconcile the promise of America with its reality. His music doesn’t preach—it reflects. It tells stories, sharpened through decades of lived experience. Born in segregated Edenton, North Carolina, and transplanted to Massachusetts, Kemp has embraced music as a form of witnessing, reflecting, and reaching out. His songs blend the raw roots of American folk, soul, blues, and jazz, guided by the music and activism of artists like Donny Hathaway, Joni Mitchell, and Bill Withers. Kemp’s powers of observation and his gift for shining a light on the modern world have only deepened over a lifetime devoted to the most basic and profound of pursuits: human connection.

The America Chronicles is a powerful reflection of that journey. Years in the making, the album confronts the beauty, contradictions, and complexity of this country with clarity, compassion, and soul. It’s not just a collection of songs—it’s a witness account, an offering, and an invitation to listen.