About Me

Photo Credit: Nicole Rim

Emmett G. Price III is an internationally-recognized expert on Black Music & Culture, Afro-Diasporic sacred & secular expressions and Christian Worship. He has spent much of the past few decades writing, lecturing and conducting cutting edge research on bridging the generational divide. A well-regarded scholar and educator, Dr. Price has the unique ability to capture the hearts and minds of the most diverse and versatile audiences with his compassionate sense of humor, his amicable intellect and his quick wit. He is a noted print and broadcast media expert, as well as a widely sought-after keynote and motivational speaker.

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Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Price received a B.A. in music from the University of California, Berkeley and earned both his M.A. and Ph.D. in music (ethnomusicology) from the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, Dr. Price serves as Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Prior to his current post, Dr. Price served on the faculties of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2016-2021) where he founded the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience (ISBCE) and Northeastern University (2001-2016) where he served as chair of the Department of African American Studies (2008-2012).  He has served as visiting professor at Boston University, Berklee College of Music, Andover Newton Theological School and Brandeis University. He has served as a guest lecturer at over 50 universities worldwide.

An acclaimed scholar, Dr. Price is the author of HIP HOP Culture (ABC-CLIO, 2006), executive editor of the Encyclopedia of African American Music (ABC-CLIO, 2011) and editor of The Black Church and Hip Hop Culture: Toward Bridging the Generational Divide (Scarecrow Press, 2012). He is the former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Popular Music Studies. Along with numerous commissioned writings and book length chapters, his work can be found in African American Review, American Music, Black Music Research Journal, the Boston Banner, the Boston Herald, Ethnomusicology, GIA Quarterly: A Liturgical Music Journal, International Jazz Archives Journal, Journal of Popular Music Studies, NOTES: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association, and Yale Journal of Music and Religion.

Dr. Price is a celebrated keynote and motivational speaker in high demand; he has addressed audiences at Nike, Network Health, the U.S. Coast Guard, Raytheon, Year Up, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Inc., the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Business Journal, American Jazz Museum and many more. He has made several appearances on GBH-TV’s Basic Black, WNYC’s RadioLab and NPR’s All Things Considered. Dr. Price is a regular contributor to GBH-Radio’s Boston Public Radio segment “All Revved Up!” and is the co-executive producer/ co-host of the very popular All Rev’d Up Podcast.

A trained musician, Dr. Price has performed throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Europe as both a solo artist and as a sideman. As a composer and arranger, he has worked with internationally lauded poet and playwright Ed Bullins, the Greater Boston/ Cambridge John Coltrane Memorial Concert Ensemble, the Zamir Chorale of Boston and numerous gospel choirs, sacred music ensembles and jazz bands across the globe.

An ordained minister, Dr. Price serves as Founding Pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship (Allston, MA). Since 2011, he has served as the Director of the James Abbington Church Music Academy as part of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference & Choir Directors’ and Organists’ Guild. Dr. Price is a respected civic leader and arts advocate currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC). He is also on the Board of Directors of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra and the Institute of Contemporary Art/ Boston. He previously served as CEO & Board Chair of JazzBoston and former Board Chair of the MetroWest YMCA Association. Dr. Price is a Trustee of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies and former Trustee of Massachusetts Bay Community College.