Carnegie Hall

In the early 20th century, Harlem’s “hip-hop” was ragtime—driven by young Black and Jewish musicians who shaped America’s sound. By 1914, Harlem was the nation’s second-largest Jewish community, where artists like Gershwin, Hammerstein, and Rodgers collaborated with African American greats such as W. C. Handy, James Reese Europe, and Duke Ellington. Together, they forged America’s songbook. Join longtime Harlem resident and scholar John T. Reddick to explore their neighborhood—Mount Morris Park, 125th Street, the Apollo Theater, and other landmarks. A Columbia University A’Lelia Bundles Scholar, Reddick has curated exhibitions and written extensively on Harlem’s Black and Jewish music culture from 1890 to 1930.