Pierce Freelon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pierce Freelon
Musician, Educator
Born	Pierce Freelon Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Education	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Syracuse University
Years active	2004–present
Title	Durham City Council Member, Ward 3 (2020-2021)
Predecessor	Vernetta Alston
Successor	Leonardo Williams

Pierce Freelon is a talented American artist, teacher, writer, and politician from Durham, North Carolina. He is known for his family music, which has even been nominated for a Grammy Award! Pierce also used to be a member of the Durham City Council.

He started Blackspace, which is a cool digital space for creative people who love Afrofuturism. He also helped create Beat Making Lab, a web-series on PBS that won an Emmy Award. Pierce even helped write and create music for another PBS animated series called The History of White People in America.

Pierce has taught at universities like UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University. He also served on the board of the North Carolina Arts Council.

Pierce Freelon's Career Journey

Teaching Music Around the World

When Pierce was in college at UNC Chapel-Hill, he created a special Hip-Hop class. He has taught this class in over 100 schools and community centers all over the world! After graduating from Syracuse University, he developed the Bebop to Hip Hop program. This program was for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, which is now called the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.

Pierce also helped start Beat Making Lab, a PBS web-series. This series won an Emmy Award in 2015 for its episode about Fiji. His teaching ideas and grant writing helped create Next Level. This is a big project between UNC Chapel Hill and the U.S. Department of State. It teaches people about hip hop diplomacy and how to solve problems peacefully. Pierce has worked on music and social justice projects in many countries. These include places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and South Africa. He has worked with groups like the United Nations Foundation.

His Music Career

Pierce Freelon has performed and taught music internationally. He has shared the stage with famous musicians like his mother, Nnenna Freelon, Herbie Hancock, and Patti Austin. He also appeared on the soundtrack for a film called The Black Candle. He has performed with well-known hip-hop artists like Doug E. Fresh and Grand Master Flash.

Pierce is the lead singer of a jazz and hip hop group called The Beast. This group has released several albums and EPs.

In 2020, Pierce released his first children's music album called D.a.D. It was very popular and featured on NPR and the Today Show. His second family album, Black to the Future, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022! This was a special moment because his mother, Nnenna Freelon, was also nominated for a Grammy that same year. They made history as the first mother and son to be nominated for Grammys in different categories at the same time.

His Political Path

In 2017, Pierce Freelon decided to run for Mayor of Durham. He focused on ideas like community, growth, youth, and love. Even though it was his first time running for office, he got 16% of the votes. He did not win, but it was a good start in a race with many candidates.

In 2020, Pierce ran for North Carolina State Senate. He earned 37% of the votes but came in second place in the Democratic primary election.

On August 31, 2020, Pierce was chosen to serve on the Durham City Council for Ward 3. In November 2021, he joined gospel legend Shirley Caesar as the second Durham City Council Member to be nominated for a Grammy Award. At the end of his term, Pierce decided not to run for re-election.

Pierce Freelon's Family

Pierce Freelon's mother is Nnenna Freelon, who is also a Grammy nominee. His late father, Philip Freelon, was a famous architect. He was the lead architect for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Pierce is married to Katye Proctor Freelon. Her grandfather was Samuel DeWitt Proctor. He was a former president of A&T State University. He was also a minister and a friend and mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..

Discography (Albums)

• The Beast - Belly (2008)
• The Beast - Silence Fiction (2009)
• The Beast - Freedom Suite (2010)
• The Beast - Guru Legacy (2011)
• The Beast - Gardens (2013)
• The Beast - Stories (2014)
• Pierce Freelon - Chronic The Hedgehog (2016)
• The Beast - Woke (2017)
• Pierce Freelon - D.a.D (2020)
• Pierce Freelon - Black to the Future (2021)
• Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon - AnceStars (2023)

Awards and Nominations