Us & Them Encore: A Band On The Right Side Of History

Us & Them Encore: A Band On The Right Side Of History

From Us & Them by Trey Kay and WVPB

February 12, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 257

About this episode

This episode explores the intersection of music and race in the 1960s, highlighting a band that stood against racism and the impact on musicians in West Virginia.

The U.S. continues to struggle with racial discrimination and this episode of Us & Them looks back at a moment in the 1960s when music and race intersected. America’s popular music scene is a racially integrated space and there are times when it provides a place to heal the nation’s divides. Host Trey Kay shares a story about a band that took a stand against racism and the musicians who suffered the consequences. Kay heads to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame to talk with West Virginia musicians of different generations as they talk about their experiences past and present in the local music scene and the way it reflects our divisions and unity.

People in this episode

Host: Trey Kay

Guest: West Virginia Musicians

Topics covered

  • racial discrimination
  • music
  • history
  • unity
  • divisions

Keywords

  • 1960s
  • popular music
  • healing
  • local music scene

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Us & Them Encore, Us & Them

Places: U.S., America, West Virginia

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