In honor of Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore, Seattle’s Hip Hop Ambassador”, this special  #BlackMusicMonth edition of #ThrowBackThursday is dedicated to his legacy. His creative, intuitive musical balance, and the special ability he had for corralling the energy around him to be a true force of inspiration and mentorship to others was incredible. Join President of the Black Heritage Society Stephanie Johnson-Toliver as she discusses his immeasurable impacts on Seattle’s music scene.

Jonathan was a rapper, producer, and manager who was extremely influential in the Northwest hip-hop scene. In 1989 he founded one of the first rap groups in Seattle, Source of Labor. By 1995, he began booking national hip hop acts in Seattle and most of who he worked with would go on to become influencers in their own right.  

He also started a weekly radio show on KUBE 93 called Sunday Night Sound Sessions, which branched out and captured the interest of listeners across the city.

In 2019, through the generosity of Jonathan’s mother, the Black Heritage Society of Washington State received the Jonathan Moore Legacy Collection that is made up of personal and family memorabilia including photographs, music venue ephemera, handwritten journals, and more that gives insight into Moore’s brilliant creative process, the people who admired his advocacy, and in turn describes his thoughtful mentorship. 

Check out photos, stories and more in this weeks Throw Back Thursday episode.