The first-grade class at Belmont Hills Elementary School recently capped off their special Black History Month programming with an assembly celebrating the life and works of a number of iconic African-American musicians in front of an enthusiastic audience of students and staff! Among the influential figures highlighted throughout the presentation were Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Scott Joplin, WC Handy, Diana Ross, Duke Ellington, Josephine Baker, Alicia Keys and Tina Turner, among others!

Students took turns at the microphone as they shared important biographical information about each of these famous figures and highlighted the many obstacles they each overcame on their respective paths to success. As the assembly progressed through the catalog of legendary African-American artists, the students also had the opportunity to sing some of the songs made famous by these magnificent musicians!

Be sure to click through the images in the slideshow below!