I saw this this thread, and my first thought was,

Yeah, that's a good question. There's Charley Pride, and he's really good, but why isn't there any other black country music?

Charley Price, born in Mississippi in 1938 is the only black person who is well known in american country music.
But that's not what you're talking about, is it, Steve? I think some of us from the Colonies may need a bit of enlightenment. Can you give us a bit of the story of the styles and traditions of Black Country music? for that matter, how'd it get the name "Black Country" in the first place, and how big is the area, and what's it like?
-Joe offer-