About

Professor Roberts joined the University of Memphis Libraries in 2015 and in July 2018 joined the University Libraries faculty. As Music Librarian, his primary duties include development of the music collection, music-specific library group instruction, and individual research consultations. As a member of the University Libraries’ faculty, he serves as liaison to other subject areas as needed. His research interests focus primarily on topics related to music in Memphis. Other research interests deal with the music traditions of both Ethiopia and Madagascar, in addition to performance practice of the theorbo.

Education

• University of Memphis, Ph.D., Music, Musicology, Spring 2020
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville, M.S., Information Sciences, Spring 2018 
• University of Memphis, M.M., Musicology, Spring 2013
• Defense Language Institute, Certificate of Training in Arabic, November 2004
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville, B.M., Studio Music and Jazz, Spring 1999

Work Experience

• Music Librarian, Associate Professor, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, September 2024-Present
• Music Librarian, Assistant Professor, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, July 2018-August 2024
• Library Assistant III, Music Library, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, October 2015-July 2018
• Music Tour Guide, Backbeat Tours, Memphis, TN, February 2015-Present  
• Graduate Assistant, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, September 2013-May 2015
• Staff Sergeant, Airborne Cryptologic Linguist, United States Air Force, March 2003-March 2009

Research Interests

• Memphis music
• Lutes and theorbos
• Conducting research using microfilm
• Ethiopian music
• Malagasy music

Publications

• Roberts, J. (2024). [Review of the book Ballad Hunting with Max Hunter: Stories of an Ozark Folksong Collector by Sarah Jane Nelson]. Journal of Southern History, 90(1), 193-194.
• Hanson, J. & Roberts, J. (2023). Perspectives of Black students in music education doctoral programs: motivations, experiences, and information literacy. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 33(1), 69–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/10570837231177988
• Roberts, J. (2022). Brunswick artist Harry Philwin: the singing soldier. ARSC Journal, 53(2), 243-252. 
• Roberts, J. (2022). Diversifying the portfolio: expanding the patron base of branch libraries. Journal of Creative Library Practice. August 29, 2022. https://creativelibrarypractice.org/2022/08/29/diversifying-the-portfolio/ (accessed January 3, 2023). 
• Roberts, J. (2022). The borrowings of Bob Miller, hillbilly music’s premier event songwriter. Journal of Popular Music Studies, 34 (2), 28-50. https://doi.org/10.1525/jpms.2022.34.2.28 
• Roberts, J. (2022). [Review of the book Crossing Bar Lines: The Politics and Practices of Black Musical Space by James Gordon Williams]. Music Reference Services Quarterly. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10588167.2022.2056784
• Roberts, J. (2022). Newspapers and the persisting usefulness of microfilm: a matter of context. Music Reference Services Quarterly, 25(1), 19-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/10588167.2021.1991165  
• Review of “The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers” by Valerie June. Black Grooves. March 1, 2021. https://blackgrooves.org/valerie-june-the-moon-and-stars/ (accessed March 8, 2021). 
• Roberts, J. (2020). Libraries and Arts Entrepreneurship Education. Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education, 2(1), 33-56. https://doi.org/10.46776/jaee.v2.59  
• Review of “Go, Just Do It!” by Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne. Black Grooves, October 6, 2020. https://blackgrooves.org/kenny-blues-boss-wayne-go-just-do-it/ (accessed October 6, 2020).
• Roberts, J. (2020). [Review of the book The Sonatas of Henry Purcell: Rhetoric and Reversal by Alon Schab]. Notes, 76(4), 581-583. https://doi.org/10.1353/not.2020.0039  
• Roberts, J. & Scott, R. (2019). Using inventory data to enhance music collections. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 14(4), 160-164. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29620 
• Review of “Songs for Groovy Children: The Fillmore East Concerts” by Jimi Hendrix. Black Grooves, December 5, 2019. http://blackgrooves.org/jimi-hendrix-songs-for-groovy-children-the-fillmore-east-concerts/ (accessed December 7, 2019).
• Review of “Torn from the Pages” by Stevie D. Black Grooves, November 1, 2019. http://blackgrooves.org/stevie-d-ft-corey-glover-torn-from-the-pages/ (accessed November 1, 2019).
• Review of “The Preacher, The Politician, or The Pimp” by Toronzo Cannon. Black Grooves, October 1, 2019. http://blackgrooves.org/toronzo-cannon-the-preacher-the-politician-or-the-pimp/ (accessed October 1, 2019).
• Review of “Turbulent Times” by Hundred Watt Heart. Black Grooves, July 3, 2019. http://blackgrooves.org/hundred-watt-heart-turbulent-times/ (accessed July 3, 2019).
• Review of “Inside Out” by Bernard Fowler. Black Grooves, May 1, 2019. http://blackgrooves.org/bernard-fowler-inside-out/ (accessed May 1, 2019). 
• Review of “Hello Happiness” by Chaka Khan. Black Grooves, March 4, 2019. http://blackgrooves.org/chaka-khan-hello-happiness/ (accessed March 5, 2019). 
• Review of “All My Money Gone” by Snooky Pryor. Black Grooves, January 7, 2019. http://blackgrooves.org/snooky-pryor-all-my-money-gone/ (accessed January 7, 2019). 
• Review of “Original Human Music” by Ultraphonix. Black Grooves, September 4, 2018. http://blackgrooves.org/ultraphonix-original-human-music/ (accessed September 4, 2018). 
• Review of “Tribute to Jimi: Often Imitated but Never Duplicated” by Dug Pinnick. Black Grooves, July 3, 2018. http://blackgrooves.org/dug-pinnick-tribute-to-jimi-often-imitated-by-never-duplicated/ (accessed July 3, 2018).
• Review of “Woodstock Sessions Volume 9” by Zig Zag Power Trio. Black Grooves, May 1, 2018. http://blackgrooves.org/zig-zag-power-trio-woodstock-sessions-volume-9/ (accessed May 1, 2018).
• Review of “Both Sides of the Sky” by Jimi Hendrix. Black Grooves, March 2, 2018. http://blackgrooves.org/jimi-hendrix-both-sides-of-the-sky-2/ (accessed March 26, 2018). 
• Review of “East Coast Live” by Delta Deep. Black Grooves, February 2, 2018. http://blackgrooves.org/delta-deep-east-coast-live/ (accessed March 26, 2018). 
• Review of “Hendrix in the Spirit of Jazz.” Black Grooves, January 4, 2018. http://blackgrooves.org/hendrix-in-the-spirit-of-jazz/ (accessed January 4, 2018).  
• Review of “The Spirit of Memphis 1962-1976” by Isaac Hayes. Black Grooves, December 1, 2017. http://blackgrooves.org/isaac-hayes-the-spirit-of-memphis-1962-1976/ (accessed December 20, 2017).
• Review of “Cookpot” by Paa Kow. Black Grooves, November 2, 2017. http://blackgrooves.org/paa-kow-cookpot/ (accessed December 20, 2017).
• Review of “We’re All in This Together” by Walter Trout. Black Grooves, October 2, 2017. http://blackgrooves.org/walter-trout-were-all-in-this-together/ (accessed December 20, 2017).

Conference Presentations

• Roberts, J. “Preserving Local Music Magazines as Avenues for Music Research.” Music Library Association Annual Conference. Cincinnati, OH, March 1, 2024.
• Page, J., Bedford, J., Peattie, T., Roberts, J. “The Research Methods Class in the Twenty-First Century.” College Music Society Southern Chapter Conference. Memphis, TN, February 23, 2024.
• Hanson, J., Roberts, J. “Perspectives of Black Students in Music Education Doctoral Programs: Motivations, Experiences, and Information Literacy.” University Libraries Colloquium. University of Memphis, February 12, 2023.
• Hanson, J., Roberts, J. “Accepting Uncomfortable Truths: Understanding the Experiences of Black Doctoral Students in Music Education.” College of Communication and Fine Arts Research Showcase. University of Memphis, April 22, 2022. 
• Hanson, J., Roberts, J. “A Qualitative Exploration of Black Doctoral Music Students’ Motivations, Experiences, and Information Literacy.” College Music Society Southern Chapter Conference. Cleveland, MS, February 18, 2022.
• Roberts, J. “The Jewish American Contribution to Memphis’s Musical Legacy.” Scheidt Scholarly Seminar #2. University of Memphis, December 3, 2021. 
• Baker, G., Dorsey, S., Johnson G., Roberts, J., Sheahan, L. “Chapter Share: Our Favorite Activities for Music Library Instruction.” Southeast Music Library Association Conference. Virtual Meeting. October 15, 2021. 
• Roberts, J. “The Jewish-American Influence on Memphis Music.” Southeast Music Library Association Annual Conference. Virtual Meeting. October 15, 2021.
• Roberts, J. “Something Borrowed, Something New: The Roots of Bob Miller and His Songs.” American Musicological Society Annual Conference. Virtual Meeting, November 14, 2020. 
• Roberts, J. “Not to Be Taken Out of Context: The Persisting Usefulness of Microfilm” [Poster session]. Southeast Music Library Association Annual Conference. Virtual Meeting, October 16, 2020.
• Roberts, J. “Diversifying the Portfolio: Engaging Non-Music Students as Music Librarians” [Poster session]. Music Library Association Annual Conference. Norfolk, VA, February 28, 2020. 
• Roberts, J. “The Irving Berlin of Memphis: The Early Years of Bob Miller.” University of Memphis Libraries NEDtalks. Memphis, TN, November 13, 2019. 
• Scott, R. & Roberts, J. “Do Your Students Know RISM from RILM?: Automate a Music Resource Matchmaker.” Music Library Association Annual Conference. Portland, OR, February 1, 2018. 
• Roberts, J. “The Application of Vincenzo Galilei's Tendencies in Arranging Renaissance Madrigals for the Lute as Seen in Fronimo.” Southern Graduate Music Research Symposium. Athens, GA, September 14, 2013.

Outreach, Service & Membership 

• Music Library Association, Career Development and Service Committee, member, 2019-2023
• Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education, Editorial Board, 2020-Present

Teaching Experience: Courses Taught

• Freshman Honors Forum, Fall 2023, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Blues, Spring 2023, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Memphis Music, Fall 2022, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Freshman Honors Forum, Fall 2022, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Freshman Honors Forum, Fall 2021, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Freshman Honors Forum, Fall 2020, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• History of Rock and Roll, Fall 2013-Spring 2015, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• American Folk/Popular Music, Fall 2014, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

Guest Lecturer

• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2023, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Introduction to Music Research, Fall 2022, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2022, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2021, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Freshman Seminar, Fall 2021, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• African American Music, Fall 2020, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
• Blues, Fall 2020, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2020, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• African American Music, Spring 2020, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
• African American Music, Fall 2019, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2019, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Spring 2019, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• African American Music, Spring 2019, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
• Freshman Seminar, Fall 2019, Lecture on Memphis Music, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2018, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Freshman Seminar, Fall 2018, Lecture on Memphis Music, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• American Folk/Popular Music, Fall 2017, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2017, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Freshman Seminar, Fall 2017, Lecture on Memphis Music, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
• Bibliography and Research Methods, Fall 2016, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

Honors & Awards

• SEMLA Best-of-Chapter, “The Jewish-American Influence on Memphis Music.” Southeast Music Library Association Annual Conference, 2021
• Community of Research Scholars Grant, “Memphis Film Community,” University of Memphis, 2019

Selected Ensembles and Recordings

• Memphis Consortium for Early Music, 2020-Present, theorbo
• Collegium Musicum, 2012-Present, University of Memphis, lute and theorbo
• The Willards Band, Honky Tonk Ain’t Dead, 2011, lead guitar