The Four Fives: History of the American Zombie, a New Project that Encapsulates the Essence of African American Musical Heritage Within a Modern Context

SAN FRANCISCO, November 4, 2024 — The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) and the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) are thrilled to announce a debut album by 2023 artist-in-residence, visual artist and muralist Christopher Burch and longtime musical collaborator Rasul Grayson. Titled The Four Fives: History of the American Zombie, the album features five songs and a 20-page poetry booklet exploring the absurdities and contradictions inherent in racial oppression, merging Burch's personal experiences with a rich tapestry of Black musical traditions. 

Drawing inspiration from quintessentially African American musical genres that emerged and flourished during an era when auditory experiences were primarily confined to the 33, 78, and 45 RPM vinyl formats, Burch and Grayson masterfully blend jazz, blues, and hip-hop into this new project. The Four Fives: History of the American Zombie confronts deep-seated cultural injustices while celebrating Black identity and endurance through the legacies of Afro-Surrealism.  

“We are thrilled that as part of our Artist-in-Residence Program, artists like Christopher Burch, who is primarily known as a visual artist and muralist, is able to use this opportunity to create an album inspired by the library’s collection of Black music. As the city agency tasked with championing and advocating for the arts in San Francisco, we are proud to be able to support him as he introduces a new medium into his already robust artistic practice,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. “The San Francisco Arts Commission’s Artist-in-Residence Program not only provides a unique opportunity for artists to conduct research within other city departments, but also encourages them to explore new aspects of their own practice.” 

In 2023, Burch was one of four artists-in-residence selected to participate in the San Francisco Arts Commission's Artist-in-Residence program at the San Francisco Public Library. Launched in 2015, this program aims to foster partnerships with City departments, enabling artists to contribute to civic dialogue.  

“Through music, books, art and the other myriad resources, the library is a place of lifelong learning and discovery and it’s been a joy watching Christopher Burch push the bounds of his practice as he explores the library’s collections,” said City Librarian Michael Lambert. “As a visual artist expanding into music, I look forward to Christopher’s continued artistic evolution.”  

During his ten-week residency at SFPL, Burch spent much of his time researching historical figures and places that had significant impact on African American culture in San Francisco. As his research deepened, he became increasingly drawn to the SFPL audio archives, and in particular their collection of music that he understood to be unapologetically engaged with Black liberation.  

“Standing amidst the record covers and listening to the music, I was reminded of my beginnings” says Burch. “Artists from San Francisco such as Santana, Frankie Beverly, Fillmore Slim, Bobby Freeman, and Etta James filled my father's record collection, creating the foundation of who I am today. This memory compelled me to step outside my visual practice and utilize this residency to explore my love for music.”  

Christopher Burch and Rasul Grayson met in San Francisco 10 years ago and started playing music together as The Four Fives, named after the 45 RPM record. The Four Fives: History of the American Zombie came out of years of informal and improvisational collaboration between the two. Join Burch and Grayson for the album launch and live performance on Thursday, December 5 at The Main’s Koret Auditorium. This live event promises to be a vibrant celebration of the album's release, offering the community an immersive auditory and cultural experience. 

In addition to the launch event, be sure to check out a display of albums that inspired Burch during his residency and led to the creation of the The Four Fives: History of the American Zombie in the Audiovisual Center on the first floor of the Main through May 2025. You will also be able to check out and listen to the album when it enters the SFPL music collection in March 2025. 

Event Details
The Four Fives: History of the American Zombie Record Launch and Live Performance 
Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. (Doors at 5:30 p.m.) 
San Francisco Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 
Free and open to the public 

###

About the Artist Christopher Burch
Chirstopher Burch is an artist and educator whose multidisciplinary work spans painting, public murals and surrealist narratives to explore themes of Black cultural memory, mythology and identity. Based in San Francisco and St. Louis, Burch’s work blurs the lines between myth and reality, drawing on folklore, Black transfigurative rituals and surrealism to create vivid, layered narratives that confront life, rebirth, and resilience. His public murals, made under the moniker Goya Goon, extend these themes into the community, transforming urban spaces into powerful storytelling canvases that invite reflection on shared cultural heritage and the complexities of human experience. Burch received the Painting Fellowship for his graduate studies at the San Francisco Art Institute (MFA 2008). He shows globally and has exhibited with The Museum of African Diaspora, Luggage Store Gallery, White Walls Gallery, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and The Headlands Center for the Arts. To learn more, visit goyagoon.com 

About Rasul Grayson
Native to San Francisco, Rasul Grayson is a multi-instrumentalist who pours his soul into his primary instruments--tenor saxophone and guitar--which inspire his continuous exploration of new soundscapes.

About the San Francisco Arts Commission
The San Francisco Arts Commission is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment and shaping innovative cultural policy. Our programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing. To learn more, visit sfartscommission.org.

About the San Francisco Public Library  
San Francisco Public Library connects our diverse communities to learning, opportunities and each other. The library system is made up of 27 neighborhood branches, the San Francisco Main Library at Civic Center and four bookmobiles. To learn more, visit sfpl.org