Rickey Vincent facts for kids

Rickey Vincent is an American author, historian, and radio host. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. He is well-known for his book Funk: The Music, the People and the Rhythm of The One. This book tells the story of funk music. It won an award called the ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor Award in 1997.

Rickey Vincent's Early Life and Education

Rickey Vincent grew up in Berkeley, California. As a kid in the 1970s, he watched funk and soul bands play at the Oakland Coliseum. These experiences helped him love music.

He went to college to study. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University in 1987. Later, he got his Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley in 2008.

Teaching and Radio Work

Today, Rickey Vincent teaches at several colleges. He is a lecturer at UC Berkeley. He also teaches at City College of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, and California College of the Arts in Oakland.

Since 1997, Vincent has hosted a radio show called "The History of Funk" on KPFA radio. He shares his knowledge of funk music with listeners.

In 2001, a group called HUSHconcerts started the San Francisco Funk Festival. They created this festival because of Rickey Vincent's important work. He helped people understand funk music's place in society and art.

Books and TV Appearances

Rickey Vincent has appeared on TV shows. These shows often talk about black music and culture. He has been on many episodes of the TV series Unsung. This show tells the stories of famous music artists.

In 2013, he released his second book. It is called Party Music: The Inside Story of the Black Panthers Band and How Black Power Transformed Soul Music. This book explores how music and social movements are connected.