معرفی
Cheryl L. Keyes is Professor of Ethnomusicology and Global Jazz Studies at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, where she also serves as Chair of the Department of African American Studies. A multi-faceted scholar-artist, she bridges academic research with musical performance, holding leadership positions including Director of Graduate Studies for Ethnomusicology and former Inaugural Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Herb Alpert School of Music.
Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology/Folklore and M.M.E. in Music Education from Indiana University, and a B.M.E. in Music Education from Xavier University of Louisiana. Keyes' research focuses on the continuum of African musical traditions through the diaspora, examining how West African aesthetic practices transform into contemporary forms like hip-hop and jazz.
Keyes' scholarly and creative work centers on African American musical expressions, with particular focus on hip-hop ethnography, gender dynamics in jazz, and the preservation of African musical heritage. Her groundbreaking book Rap Music and Street Consciousness established foundational frameworks for understanding hip-hop as both street culture and artistic innovation. Recent projects explore connections between West African epic traditions and contemporary musical expressions, notably through her award-winning composition Sundiata Keita Overture.
Her publications and creative works reveal a consistent thread connecting historical African musical practices with contemporary American forms. The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, for which she served on the executive committee, represents decades of curatorial work documenting hip-hop's evolution from Bronx parks to global phenomenon. Her musical compositions, including the Sundiata Keita Overture, demonstrate how traditional West African storytelling forms continue to shape modern musical expression.
- CHOICE award for Rap Music and Street Consciousness
- NAACP Image Award for Let Me Take You There
- Global Music Award Silver Medal for Hollywood and Vine
- Indiana University's Herman C. Hudson Alumni Award
- Global Music Award Silver Medal for Sundiata Keita Overture (2024)
- Honorary Membership in the Society for Ethnomusicology
As an institutional leader, Keyes has secured significant support for cultural programming including the David and Irmgard Dobrow Fund for her Swinging to a World of Strings concert series. She created UCLA's inaugural Juneteenth Day celebration and has directed multiple concert series examining African American musical traditions. Her leadership extends to national organizations, having served as President of IASPM-US and on the Board of Directors for the Society for Ethnomusicology.
Keyes directs the Instrumental Women Project™, commissioning concerts that highlight female jazz instrumentalists, and maintains the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive containing four decades of her field research. Her multimedia projects, including Prelude to Juneteenth Day Celebration at Royce Hall, demonstrate her commitment to creating platforms that connect academic research with public engagement through performance.
