14 Facts About Pierce Freelon

Pierce Freelon is an American musician, educator, author and politician from Durham, North Carolina.

Pierce Freelon is a Grammy-nominated family music artist and former Durham City Council Member.

Pierce Freelon co-founded Beat Making Lab, an Emmy Award winning PBS web-series.

Pierce Freelon is co-director, writer and composer of The History of White People in America, a PBS animated series.

Pierce Freelon has taught in the departments of African, African American and Diaspora Studies and Music at UNC-Chapel Hill and in the Department of Political Science at North Carolina Central University.

Pierce Freelon is a former board member of the North Carolina Arts Council.

Pierce Freelon is co-founder of Beat Making Lab, a PBS web-series, which won Best Video Essay for its episode Heartbeats of Fiji at the 2015 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Pierce Freelon has performed and educated internationally with Nnenna Freelon, Herbie Hancock, Bob James, Earl Klugh and Patti Austin.

Pierce Freelon appeared on the soundtrack of The Black Candle alongside Robert Glasper, Chris Dave and Derrick Hodge.

Pierce Freelon appeared on Nnenna Freelon's album, Home Free and has performed with hip-hop artists such as Doug E Fresh, Grand Master Flash, The Last Poets and Dead Prez.

Pierce Freelon is the frontman of the jazz and hip hop group The Beast, which has released several albums and EPs.

Pierce Freelon ran for Mayor of Durham in 2017 on a platform of: Community, Growth, Youth and Love.

In November 2021, Pierce Freelon joined Durham-native gospel legend and politician Shirley Ceaser as the second sitting Durham City Council Member to be nominated for a Grammy Award.

Pierce Freelon is the son of Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon and the late Philip Freelon, the lead architect of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.