BLKBOK

Members who give $500+ annually receive 10% off concert tickets.

2023 Concert Series sponsored by

Through both his classical arrangements of popular hip hop tunes and his original music, BLKBOK creates a space of deep human connection and understanding of American history.

—Intersect Magazine

The uniquely gifted pianist BLKBOK uses his dexterous neoclassical arrangements and melodic scores to paint an audible portrait of the American experience—his own and his community’s, and the pivotal moments that bind us.

Born Charles Wilson III and raised in Detroit’s inner city, BLKBOK grew up in a household filled with music. By the time he was 8, he was an acclaimed piano prodigy, winning statewide accolades and college-level competitions. Most of the kids he grew up with pursued hip hop and adopted rapper names. Wilson did, too, and it’s no coincidence that he chose the name BLKBOK—a name that echoes one of the greatest pianists and composers of all time. The name is also an apt reflection of the elements that have contributed to the pianist’s identity and symbolizes his colorful journey from pop and hip hop culture to his 2021 neoclassical debut, Black Book.