Ray Allen is Professor of Music and American Studies at Brooklyn College, CUNY, where he teaches classes on American music, world music, and urban folk culture. His research has ranged from African American gospel, Caribbean Carnival music, and the folk music revival to the works of composers Ruth Crawford Seeger and George Gershwin. His books include Singing in the Spirit: African-American Sacred Quartets in New York City, Island Sounds in the Global City: Caribbean Popular Music in New York City (co-edited with Lois Wilcken), Ruth Crawford Seeger's Worlds: Innovation and Tradition in Twentieth Century American Music (co-edited with Elli Hisama), and Gone to the Country: The New Lost City Ramblers and the Urban Folk Music Revival.