B'Lack Then: Muted Melodies
Schedule
Fri, 07 Nov, 2025 at 08:30 am to Fri, 27 Feb, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Archives of Ontario | Toronto, ON
About this Event
The Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) proudly presents B’Lack Then: Muted Melodies, now open to the public!
This immersive exhibition explores the lives of 23 influential artists across 10 music genres through a powerful collection of photographs, albums, singles, newspaper clippings, film screenings, discussions, and more.
🎼 What You’ll See
Spread across eight glass vitrines, the exhibition invites you to explore:
Albums, singles, and compilations by: Portia White, Salome Bey, Jackie Shane, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles, Nana McLean, Adrian Miller, Motion, Rochester aka Juice, and Gene King
Rare sheet music by: The Ball Family, Shelton Brooks, and Nathaniel Dett
Original performance costumes worn by: King Cosmos, Claudja Barry, and Rochester aka Juice
Intimate photographs of:The Assoon Brothers, Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison, and Archie Alleyne
Treasured musical instruments including: Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison’s handcrafted, Bo Diddley–signed guitar and Pan Man Pat’s steel pan, played at the first Caribana in 1967
🎥 Special Feature
A short, silent film reel captures the vibrant scenes of Caribana (now Toronto Caribbean Carnival) from the 1970s–1980s. Behind the screen, a photo-covered pillar brings this cultural legacy to life through powerful archival visuals.
📅 Dates: Thursday, May 22, 2025 – Friday, February 27, 2026
🕓 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 5 PM, Daily
📍 Location: Archives of Ontario: 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard, Toronto, ON M7A 2C5
🎟️ Admission: FREE!
Where is it happening?
Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard, Toronto, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00
