Storyteller, activist artist, and genre-fluid musician Kemp Harris has announced the release of his new album, “The America Chronicles” via his own imprint on 4th July 2025. Produced and arranged by well-known bassist and collaborator Freebo (Bonnie Raitt amongst others), the album was recorded at the iconic FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with a cast of world-class musicians including Freebo, Will McFarlane and Clayton Ivey. As a Black, gay man who has lived in America for 72 years, Harris brings a uniquely personal perspective to his work. He has lived through the pain of segregation, the hope of the civil rights era, the confusion of the Vietnam War draft, and the ongoing struggle to reconcile the promise of America with its reality. His music reflects rather than preaches telling stories, sharpened through decades of lived experience.
Born in segregated Edenton, North Carolina, and transplanted to Massachusetts, Harris has embraced music blending the raw roots of American folk, soul, blues, and jazz. His powers of observation and his gift for shining a light on the modern world have only deepened over a lifetime devoted to human connection. “At the end of the day,” Harris says, “I’m an old Black man telling stories and spreading love.” “The America Chronicles” is a reflection of that journey. Years in the making, the album confronts the beauty, contradictions, and complexity of this country with clarity, compassion, and soul. It’s not just a collection of songs – it’s a witness account, an offering, and an invitation to listen.
“On 12th November 2022,” says Harris, “I met Freebo after performing at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. He told me that he’d like to take me to Muscle Shoals to produce and arrange the record that I’ve always wanted to hear. We did just that. I’m so grateful for the experience of recording at Fame Studio with some of the best musicians I’ve ever worked with”.
You can see the video for ‘Goodnight America’ the closing track from “The American Chronicles” below, and buy the album here.
