Mellonee V. Burnim

Mellonee Victoria Burnim (born 1950) is an American ethnomusicologist. A professor emerita at Indiana University Bloomington who specializes in African American gospel music, she previously served as director of the university's Archives of African American Music and Culture.

Early life and education Burnim grew up in rural Teague, Texas in the 1950s and 1960s. She attended all-Black schools and churches, where she sang gospel music. By the age of 12, Burnim was the pianist for three different church choirs in her community. She earned her doctorate in ethnomusicology in 1980,

Career Following her graduation, Burnim continued at Indiana University, joining the faculty of the Department of Afro-American Studies (now the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies). She was a "prolific" researcher who published and lectured widely on the history and practice of Black religious music.

Burnim co-edited two textbooks with her Indiana University colleague Portia K. Maultsby: African American Music: An Introduction (2006) and Issues in African American Music: Power, Gender, Race, Representation (2016). A collection of Burnim's papers and audiovisual materials can be found in the Indiana University archives.

Selected works Books

African American Music: An Introduction (co-edited with Portia K. Maultsby), 2006; Issues in African American Music: Power, Gender, Race, Representation (co-edited with Portia K. Maultsby), 2016;

Journal articles

Book chapters