Nancy Dupree (1935–1980) was a South-Carolina-born poet, musician, educator, and cultural visionary whose work blended soulful music with powerful messages of Black pride, self-expression, and social awareness. Based in Rochester, New York, she became known in the late 1960s and 1970s for her innovative approach to teaching, creating original funk- and soul-infused songs in collaboration with her elementary school students.

With a background in classical piano and a deep love for community empowerment, Dupree turned her classroom into a space for creativity and consciousness. Her 1969 album Ghetto Reality, recorded with her students at the School #33, showcases music that addressed civil rights, identity, and day-to-day struggles with a mix of sincerity and groove. Though her recordings remained obscure for decades, they were later rediscovered by crate-diggers and reissued, earning Dupree posthumous recognition as a trailblazer in both education and music.

Her music blended soul, funk, and spoken word, often with children singing or speaking lines. The songs focused on themes like civil rights, African American history, self-esteem, and positivity.

Nancy Dupree passed away in 1980 as a result of leukemia, a fact that she bravely kept private until her final moments.