One of the first musicians to interpret the “Star Spangled Banner” in a way that displayed a Black consciousness was the ...

Like so many famous songs of yore, "The Star-Spangled Banner" started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.

The Star Spangled Banner symbolizes the bravery and resolve of the men who fought to keep America free and is the best choice for our anthem. We need to preserve our history, not destroy it ...

But it may come as a surprise to some that the tune of The Star-Spangled Banner was written this side of the pond and has deep connections to Gloucester. John Stafford Smith originally wrote the ...