Dom Flemons is known as “The American Songster®” since his repertoire covers over one hundred years of American roots music. Flemons is a folk musician, black country artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music scholar, historian, actor, slam poet, record collector, curator, podcaster, cultural commentator, influencer, and the creator, host, and producer of the American Songster Radio Show on WSM in Nashville, TN. He is considered an expert player on the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills, fife and rhythm bones. He has collaborated with high-profile musicians, performed at world-renowned venues, partnered with historical institutions, and has memorabilia featured in museums. His GRAMMY-nominated 2018 solo album “Dom Flemons Presents Black Cowboys” released on Smithsonian Folkways recordings, the very first album of its kind, catalyzed the current national black western phenomenon and black country music cultural movement.
Dom Flemons is a Co-Founder and original member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, one of the most influential modern black string bands that played a major role in popularizing American roots music. He has been a professional musician for over 25 years achieving numerous prestigious awards including; a GRAMMY with four additional nominations, two EMMY nominations, an International Acoustic Music Grand Prize Award, and a recipient of the 2020 United States Artists Fellowship. Dom Flemons was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater Northern Arizona University,
making him a Doctor of Humane Letters and he has an extensive archival collection at Vanderbilt University and the Southern Folklife Collection at UNC Chapel Hill.
