In his 2014 documentary, Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown, award-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney explores the life, career, and legacy of the Godfather of Soul with loads of archival footage from both on and off the stage, as well as interviews with his contemporaries and those who were impacted by his music. Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Spike Lee and others are interviewed as well. And the church, you know, really wanted to, again, blackball them because it was as controversial - I mean, the same way that we look at Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B's "WAP" - that's how controversial the church felt that gospel singers singing in secular environments was, like, it was a sin against God. Though not nearly as well known as the likes of other soul singers like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, or Nina Simone, Sharon Jones was right up there with them in terms of talent. GROSS: So that was Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis speaking over their performance - over The 5th Dimension's performance of "The Age Of Aquarius," which was a big hit for them. Tip: Your outfits will be admired, but still dress comfortably and stay hydrated. Then you go to Gladys Knight - well, David Ruffin and Stevie Wonder is considering it. But watch a little longer, as Wonder sits behind a drumkit to whip off a crackling drum solo. Keep upto date with the latest news from Black Music Festival. The festival was one year after the assassination of Martin Luther King, during the period of the Black Power movement. I'm Terry Gross. We've never seen women play the trumpet. Spike Lee directed this documentary about the 1963 Birmingham, Alabama church bombing that killed four Black girls. Eventnoire is the premier platform where Black culture and events intersect connecting attendees and event organizers to the Black community. ZDU2ZGJjODE4OTI3ODE5ZDkzZDBhZDJhMTRjIn0= And so that was it. Hip-hops come a long way, baby. Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, The Fifth Dimension and others entertain and talk about their work here, but as it turns out, because another festival was happening that summer in Woodstock, NY, people lost interest in this footage for a while. And, even though the hardcore outfit that was Banned in DC and made a name for themselves at CBGB's were pioneers in their own right, even they were influenced by the 70s rock band Death, who broke up just as punk rock was becoming a worldwide sensation in 1977. Colorism is often talked about in the Black community and its a topic that white people havent thought about very much. 1 was always this sort of unspoken I come in peace, I'm not a threat kind of disposition that most Black people have to have in the workspace, especially during this time period. You know, it was sort of an unplanned question, and I guess when I saw an entry, I investigated further only because it's what I recognized in myself and my own career. Your access to this site was blocked by Wordfence, a security provider, who protects sites from malicious activity. The musical documentary tells the story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, an event sometimes referred to as "Black Woodstock." It took place during the same "Summer of Love" as the more. This documentary tracks how soul food came to be, starting in Africa, running through slavery and all the changes that have happened since. Please click the video above or the mixcloud link / button below to watch our virtual show. We had a kind of a paper trail. And, you know, he's considering it, too. ZTE3MDk5NmZiMzFhYWIyYzJlYTAwN2Y5NjI3ODgyZDRjMjE4MmViMGIxNTlk GROSS: So, you know, Gladys Knight says in the film that she wasn't expecting such a big crowd. Rent/Buy Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown on Amazon. The last time you were on our show, we talked about how your grandfather, William Beachy Thompson, was a singer in the famous gospel group The Dixie Hummingbirds. About 40 hours of video were shot at the festival by Hal Tulchin with the intention of turning it into a TV series or film, but he was unable to attract interest, and the tape sat in his basement for about 50 years until "Summer Of Soul" was produced. Directors Michael Raspatello Brent Kado (co-director) Writers Michael Feferman Michael Raspatello Stars Joe Bogdan (voice) Jill Brown Rick Farman Sly was the the one act that wasn't billed to be on the festival. As the year unfolds, racial disparities become more apparent. NY 10036. #BeAware pic.twitter.com/Xme2xN1ZVa, About 3 months ago from Black Music Festival's Twitter via Twitter for Android, Free international Concert / Funfair / Sound System's / Food / Arts & Craft Stall's, Black Music Festival 2015 - Leeds Bank Holiday Recap, The 2015 Leeds Black Music Festival Pictures, Big welcome to Janine Dyer at Black Music Festival 2016, Sylvia Tella takes to the Black Music Festival Stage, Macka B arrives at Black Music Festival 2016, Kabaka Pyramid performing at BLKMusicFes2016, Cham set to smash the main stage at Black Music Festival 2016. Running until Nov . The Roots co-founder sought to change that. The Significance of Black History Month and Why It Is Celebrated in February, Black Booksellers Recommend 25 Books to Read During Black History Month and Beyond, 30 Black Americans to Celebrate During Black History Month, Black History Month Through the Years: Every Black History Month Theme Since 1928, 120 Inspiring Quotes for Black History Month: Freedom Is Never Given, Try Not To Laugh Along With the 41 Best Black Comedy Movies of All Time. YjBhOGRmNTE0MmQzMTJjMzZhNGRlOGRjMDI1NGQyNWU5ZTI5MWNmNGIyMzM5 The Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969 in the documentary Summer of Soul. It can be frustrating to explain the Black experience in the United States, in part because Black history in America is comprised of so many different experiences. Even though it could be very hip-hop, it's still just, like, so elaborate and staged. Fan of the blues or interesting stories? Mjc2MWRjOGNmZGQ4NzhlMjAzMGQ4NGViZTNhYzAxODM5YmFiNzBmMzhhMzk1 ), The Roots Questlove makes his directorial debut with this exploration of the 1969 Harlem Culture Festival. This legacy (as well as the future of the cultural landmark) is explored in great detail in the 2019 HBO documentary, The Apollo, which combines archival footage and interviews to paint the full picture of the theater. QUESTLOVE: Gladys Knight was everything to us. This is FRESH AIR. Oh, happy day, when Jesus washed, when Jesus washed, when he washed, when Jesus washed, he washed all my sins away. The music festivals named above, Essence Festival, Afropunk, Lovers and Friends, all aim to bring people together for the sake of Black culture. I can't imagine him not. But, you know, it's just beautiful to see that, you know, two generations singing together and Mahalia representing traditional gospel and Mavis representing gospel but really morphing into what they would call message music. But, yeah. The camera captures people who attended the festival more than 50 years ago, crying as they remember the power of seeing so many Black people in one place, celebrating Black culture. Strength of a Woman Festival in Atlanta, Ga. Mary J. Blige has a knack for bringing women together for celebration of life. And even after that episode came out, my family was still like, we don't care what he says. QUESTLOVE: Well, I thank you for having me, and I really enjoy doing your show all the time. We happened to be artists who are Black, and our voices sound the way they sound. It was very moving to see the significance that this had for her and for Billy Davis. We all know you guys are twitter.com/HSWestYorkshir, Our Founder and Director @DawnRisingUK will be on panel at this free event @TimeToPowerUp_ sharing her knowledge and experience as a black female in the industry - barriers and break through and why a programme such as #PowerUp is needed @yaw @Joe_Frankland twitter.com/_launchpadmusi, Be aware of your surroundings and drink. Stream Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown on Prime Video (with ElloConcerts Channel). The documentary features two decades in the making, opening up the vault for the very first time to present the performances and behind-the-scenes stories that shaped the music festival. And she seems like so happy to be there. The City of Pittsburgh is a world-renowned hub for Jazz Music and the birthplace of internationally renown Jazz Artist such as: George Benson,Art Blakey, Stanley Turrentine, Billy Eckstine, Lena Horne, Earl Fatha Hines, Roger Humphries, Joe Negri, Ahmad Jamal and countless more. https://beacons.ai/mmfrench Follow MjFmN2FiZDdhMmFhNWJjOGFlZGY2NmRhNmJlYmYwMGU3NDBhZmNmNDBiOTRj One poignant moment: Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples singing "Take My Hand, Precious Lord and Jesse Jackson explaining how Martin Luther King Jr. had that song on his mind before he died; King was assassinated just one year beforehand. So I think in my case, it was a matter of social survival on how to relate to my friends at school. Here's a look at 20 Black directors who have changed Hollywood: Oscar Micheaux Hailed as the first major Black filmmaker, Oscar Micheaux directed and produced 42 feature films between 1919 and. Mark Montgomery French 46 Followers Film Composer, Music Historian, Podcaster, and YouTuber. Award-winning journalist and former NPR correspondent Charlayne Hunter-Gault spoke about transitioning from use of the word "negro" to "Black" in describing African Americans while working at The New York Times in 1969. And, you know, you look at David Ruffin's performance in this film, and he's wearing a wool tuxedo and a coat, like, scorching in the middle of July. Oh, not much longer would you be mine. I was commenting to Billy Davis that, you know, in all the performances I've seen of The 5th Dimension, I've never heard you use sort of your gospel growl, your James Brown sermon preacher (imitating James Brown) hey, dig it - you know, that sort of thing. Unlike many documentaries that cover this event, this one dives deep into each of the four girls and their personalities to emphasize that they were real people. GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guest is Questlove. They were nothing like this. says McCoo, tearing up while she watched footage of the group performing another hit, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In. There is no denying James Browns place in the history of American music (as well as American history) thanks to the radical changes he brought to soul and rock and roll throughout the second half of the 20th century. THE 5TH DIMENSION: You know, The 5th Dimension, we travel all over the world. The overall programming featured in-person and online . Something in the Water in Virginia Beach, Va. Aside from their detour to Washington, D.C. in 2022, the Pharell-driven Something in the Water event is a Juneteenth staple for Black music festivals. Jesse Jackson and footage from the festival where Jackson tells the crowd Dr. King mentioned the song in his last words before he was shot. It's Baldwin saying, As long as we don't touch these core problems around the so-called American Dream, we can't have a common future." Baldwin is magnetic in this film; if youve not heard the way he speaks or arent familiar with the ferocity of his intelligence and wit, youll find it hard not to explore all his work after the film. Just over 27 years ago, the world lost Kurt Cobain. And their whole disposition was basically like, you know, you must wear a tuxedo all the time. Transcript. That kind of emotion surfaces often in Summer of Soul, as the camera captures people who attended the festival more than 50 years ago, crying as they remember the power of seeing so many Black people in one place, celebrating Black culture. But Nina Simone was there way before he was, you know, from her beginnings as just like sort of a lounge singer singing Broadway standards and jazz songs and whatnot, love songs and to watch her total transformation into a political artist, like, using her voice to really express how she feels. Woodstock (1970) Arguably the most culturally significant documentary on the list, seeing Woodstock is a rite-of-passage for any music festival zealot. Lovers and Friends Festival in Las Vegas, NV. Let the sunshine in. GROSS: Questlove, for you, when you're playing for different audiences, you're doing that in part because you love so many different kinds of music. In a spellbinding sequence, the movie alternates between a new interview with the Rev. ZjM3MWJlZmJiNWQzNjhkZmZmMTU5MTZlY2NjMzAzM2VjOGY1YTBmYzRmMGEx The concerts spanned from June 29 to August 24, overlapping with both the Woodstock Festival and the first moonwalk. This document is also amazing for the fact that - capturing a lot of artists sort of at the crossroads of their beginning and to the next phase of their life and - besides Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight and The Staple Singers who become, like, household names in the '70s. We do n't care what he says four Black girls and others are interviewed as well think my. 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