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. QUESTLOVE: Gladys Knight was everything to us. I mean, it really is a historic document. And we were hoping that they would receive us. Afropunk can be experienced in South Africa, France, United States, or South America. "Summer of Soul" shows us that what unfolded on an outdoor stage in . And he broke the news to me that I - even though we have the same last name, I was not related to Beachy Thompson of The Dixie Hummingbirds. -----END REPORT-----. This annual Black music festival always provides a dope experience, with the artist lineup to match. var lsjQuery = jQuery;lsjQuery(document).ready(function() { if(typeof lsjQuery.fn.layerSlider == "undefined") { if( window._layerSlider && window._layerSlider.showNotice) { window._layerSlider.showNotice('layerslider_4','jquery'); } } else { lsjQuery("#layerslider_4").layerSlider({sliderVersion: '6.8.2', type: 'fullwidth', responsiveUnder: 0, layersContainer: 0, hideUnder: 0, hideOver: 100000, pauseOnHover: 1, skin: 'v5', showBarTimer: true, skinsPath: 'http://blackmusicfestival.org/wp-content/plugins/LayerSlider/static/layerslider/skins/'}); } }); Welcome to the official website for the Black Music Festival, formerly known as the Leeds Reggae concert. Ain't nothing wrong with that, is there? Oh, happy day. ODZlYmIzZjBmODQ0Yzg5MTZhMDA0ZjQ0ZGQxNmJmZGFlMjNhYWU1YjYzOWQw Throughout the film, Thompson splices archival news footage and interviews amid the performances, turning every performance into a mini Black history lesson set to music. As he works the kit, clips of news reports and pundits surface talking about the crucial political and social issues facing Black people in 1969. What started as a one-time event in 1995 has become one of the longest-running, most attended Black festivals in the country. 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. And this is really a terrific performance. GROSS: So the festival was held in Harlem at a park there. In watching the film, I thought about something that I've thought about a lot before, which is how much, like, music choreography has changed over the decades. If all things Black women and a southern city are your jam, this is another go-to for your festival schedule. ZjM3MWJlZmJiNWQzNjhkZmZmMTU5MTZlY2NjMzAzM2VjOGY1YTBmYzRmMGEx Related: 120 Inspiring Quotes for Black History Month: Freedom Is Never Given. The product, Amazing Grace, is a moving, 87-minute breathtaking display of the raw power and emotion that made Aretha Franklin one of the most successful and influential singers of all time. hide caption. And so that was it. GROSS: Do you know if he delivered on his promises? Stream Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool on Netflix. And then suddenly, to watch them have more excitement than the kids at the end of the set, that, to me, is almost like - that should be taught in every university, like, on how to really engage and perform and really have a plan that's unmarked and unprecedented and really execute it to perfection. Instead, he did his only three Harlem performances in Harlem nightclubs with blues master Freddie King. NTgyOGY5YWNmNDMzZjM0YWVhNTRmYzMyYjNkMDdjMzZkNTdkYmY1NGM2YzU2 NGQ0YmZiNTE2NWIyNTMxZGFjNjcyY2I1ZDliNjJhYjQzN2IwYzdkZjMwM2Rl And even after that episode came out, my family was still like, we don't care what he says. GROSS: Sly, yeah. But the performers had already been paid half their fees up . This film, directed by Gran Olsson, explores the Black Power Movement from a non-American perspective. GROSS: Yeah, she sang "Mister Backlash," which is also just a very political song. "Because we wanted our people to know what we were about.". 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. They never had a photo of him. One thing is sure: Black music history cannot be taken at face value anymore.These films and future films are the proof. If you are a longtime fan of James Brown or are just now getting into his music, this is a documentary you cant miss. But, yeah, 300,000 people over that summer in '69, and it was not one incident. And some people started to dismiss Motown-style choreography as being too showbizzy (ph). But, yeah, Mahalia Jackson was the most - she was the highest paid at 10,000. We were, like, looking, you know? The Harlem Cultural Festival served as a pause from the racial and civil unrest sweeping across the United States during the late 1960s including riots, the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther. Never leave your drink unattended and then go back to it The festival is very connected to the community, so if youre a local, expect a few additional events and parties involving the One Musicfest brand throughout the year. 9. ZTk3N2UzZmVmZWQ3MjdiMmZhNTY0ZGZiMzVkZjBjYzc0M2VmMmY5Yjg1ZGJk Nina Simone, a criminally underappreciated musician who is perhaps best known these days for the song Feelin Good is the subject of this film, which opened the Sundance Festival in 2015. Of course, in the history of that show, only two people can trace their slave ship and the country and sort of the area from which they came from. And the security was provided - at least a lot of the security was provided by the Black Panthers. The festival is an oasis compared to the civil unrest that the country had been in. How do you get Stevie Wonder to sign onto this? 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. You would have probably heard about the Harlem Cultural Festival. Everyones learned so much about Martin Luther King Jr. Its easy to think that you know everything there is to know. Our producer said, OK, Billy, take them to church. And people from all different kinds of music love you and want you to be on the same bill or to perform with you to back them up. Whoa, yes I am. NjRhOWQzODM0MzNkMDQ3NjM1NzU5ZDdkYTY4NWRkZjM3Yzg0N2VjZmE3NmRi He co-founded the band The Roots, which is the house band for "The Tonight Show," where he serves as music director. 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. 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. THE 5TH DIMENSION: You know, The 5th Dimension, we travel all over the world. I mean, there are plenty of artists that got blackballed or dealt with for speaking out their political views. He's our grandfather. So The Staple Singers was gracious enough to do two weeks of performances to sort of make up for that - make up for Aretha's absence. And the singer, you know, the singer has so much spirit, the lead singer. 6. But Tulchin was unable to produce it into a film or TV series in spite of trying for years to attract funders. Do you want to describe? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Another concert doc (this one was made in 1972), Wattstax boasts a slew of performances from the likes of Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, The Emotions, The Bar Kays, The Staples Singerseven Richard Pryor makes an appearance. NWFjNjg3MzY4ZTMwNWEzZWM4N2VmOTg4ZDFlNmViZDA2ODQwMGMwMzdmZDQz Directed by Raoul Peck, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and nominated for an Oscar, this documentary explores author James Baldwin through his own words and interviews, with a lens on his unfinished book Remember This House. Related: 30 Black Americans to Celebrate During Black History Month. Selma director Ava DuVernay takes on the prison system in this striking documentary, which won a BAFTA and a Peabody Award. GROSS: Had there been a concert series like this before with tens of thousands of people, Black people and people of color in a Black neighborhood, like Harlem, before? And New Orleans had, arguably, the largest group of them. But for decades. Tip: Take the train to the festival because parking and traffic in Atlanta is a very painful experience. And, you know, and I - in Marilyn McCoo - you know, it just opened the door because I realized that, oh, so this is sort of like when The Roots are performing and, you know, one night we're with Beck, the next night we're with Wu Tang Clan. So Tony Lawrence, he was the host of the festival, but also the producer of it. So their response was basically like, we don't want to be anywhere near this because it's - we're going to be outnumbered and that sort of thing. OTZmNjdhZDczMWE1YjE4ZWQ5NzRjMGMxOWQ1MGQxZjI2ODVkMTkwZjhlODc3 Stream A Band Called Death on Prime Video (with Fandor Channel). What Are the Black History Month Colors and What Do They Mean? The TV veteran was approached over the years by. But then once hip-hop came along, then it's like, oh, everything I learned, I'm just going to add in this this pot of stew I'm making. The lions share of the footage seen here, in one of the best movies on Hulu, sat in a box for 50 years before being re-discovered and turned into a beautiful examination of the pivotal moment in American pop culture that was largely unknown until now. NzRiM2Y4MDdhZWQ3MTEyZDUzYWYxZWRiNGE5ZjA3ZTcxMjc1ZGE1N2ZhM2M5 Like, it's just sitting there just waiting for Michael Jackson to come on. Just before his death, he signed over the rights to two producers, who brought on Questlove to turn it into the film that is now "Summer Of Soul." Stream Amazing Grace on Hulu. I'm wondering, like, how are they not punching each other with their arms and their - like, all their limbs are being utilized. 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. MGYwZjNlOGJiZGYwZmE4ZmNkZjQ2NTE2MTIzNDQwYTc3NDgwYzcyMmYwMzA3 By Scott Roxborough Europe Bureau Chief For his 11th feature, the . This documentary explores the Harlem Cultural Festival, an epic showcase of Black music, art, and culture. Summer of Soul is the directorial debut of Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the renowned DJ, drummer, producer and bandleader behind hip hop legends The Roots.Questlove crams the movie with historic musical moments. There was a problem. The Strawberries and Creem festival was born from a popular club night promoted by two friends now evolved in an urban music haven. Questlove, welcome back to FRESH AIR. Running until Nov . You're a dreamer when it works out, you're a hustler when it doesn't (laughter). And I think this is one of the real standout performances in the movie. So I want to play an excerpt of their performance - of The 5th Dimension's performance - at the Harlem Cultural Festival. The documentary provides a look at her entire life, from the time when she hoped to be the first black American classical pianist; finding her way after those dreams were dashed; and her role as an artist during the Civil Rights Era. And I want to play a little bit of that because, you know, Marilyn McCoo just seems - and she's like the lead singer of the group - she just seems - you film her watching the video of her performance then, and she talks about how important it was for them to perform in front of a Black audience. Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Spike Lee and others are interviewed as well. Now, I'd like to start with a clip of Gladys Knight performing at the festival. The Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969 in the documentary Summer of Soul. The formative years of Berry Gordy Jr.s label are explored in Hitsville: The Making of Motown, a 2019 documentary that also shows how those early days at that iconic house in Detroit forever changed the landscape of American soul and the very fabric of our country, during the Civil Rights movement. After we take a short break, Justin Chang will review the new film "Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings." A couple of hours were shown on local TV in New York. And then, blammo (ph). Where to watch it: Amazon Prime Video or, you can watch it in full on YouTube here. Black gospel music is often portrayed as uplifting, an expression of joy in faith. As the year unfolds, racial disparities become more apparent. 6. B. I also found out that Jimi Hendrix tried to get on the festival as well and wasn't able to do it. The Notorious B.I.G., OutKast, Gang Starr, and Common all released landmark albums that forever changed the rap game. Like, they're doing like it's almost like interpretive body movement. Like we were saying, like, he's the person who got the commitments from everyone and made the promises and did the deals. The documentary is called "Summer Of Soul," and my guest, Questlove, directed it. MDY4NDViZWJlMjYxYTIyYmFkNWYwOGIyNTE1YzFmZmViNWM2MThlZjE0NDE1 Congratulations on the film. This documentary highlights the human experience of music festivals and it really was heartwarming to someone that truly loves EDM music and raving. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, This documentary tracks how soul food came to be, starting in Africa, running through slavery and all the changes that have happened since. Like, I don't think I would have naturally had come to - a great example is in order to watch "Billie Jean" on MTV, I had to sit through four hours of Def Leppard QUESTLOVE: Of Phil Collins or Thomas Dolby. These movies and series cover influential Black leaders, entertainers and more. And he had gotten rid of The Experience. ODZhZjU2ZDc1ZWI3ZDQ4ZGU1MjQ1YTJjODJjMGQ1YjVkN2I2ZWNlNWNjMjIy February Is Black History Month! The most eclectic gathering of Black people around the world is Afropunk. Talk to me. This documentary series shows that race is still an issue for the teenagers of today, despite progress. When we come together, it breeds an experience founded on our cultural significance and rhythmic contribution. So it was sort of like, hey, people, Jesus Christ is here right now, you know, that sort of thing. Were you already a big Nina Simone fan? QUESTLOVE: Yeah. | by Mark Montgomery French | Festival Peak 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. Completed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Questlove's documentary unveils the epic event that radiated the wholesale reevaluation of Black history, culture, fashion and music. This film could be a good companion piece to 13th. 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. He was, at the time, I believe, a young teenager. Copyright 2021 NPR. Rent/Buy Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool on Amazon. The historic-but-forgotten event the film documents is the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a series of six concerts held in Harlem's Mount Morris Park, which is now called Marcus Garvey Park. If Burna Boy, Wizkid, or Stonebwoy are on your concert wish-list, you should make a point to buy your ticket to the next Afronation festival. Like, probably the best thing about this film is the amount of people that are reaching out to me saying that, oh, my God, my great-grandmother is 19 years old. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Like, I'm a person that believes that, you know, less is more. 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If he delivered on his promises probably heard about the Harlem Cultural festival in 1969 in the had! Site, we may earn an affiliate commission released landmark albums that forever changed rap! Everything there is to know what we were about. `` break, Justin Chang will review the film... To the civil unrest that the country, at the time, I believe a.
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