For Questlove, The Pandemic Meant Embracing Quiet And Buying A Farm. GROSS: That's so funny because you had suspected - you didn't believe it when people told you 'cause your father had never confirmed it. One night we're with, you know, like, Soundgarden, the next night - or Rage Against the Machine. Music Lovers, get ready for the 2023 Pittsburgh Black Music Festival on July 13-15 at Point State Park and Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh. Overall, the film focuses on how frustrated Baldwin is with the inability of America to solve its race problems. #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. NWRkYTI1ZDRhMDJhNDBhOWM2MDE5MTk1YTg5YmZiNjk0ZTgyNTg0ODk0NDAy ZmQzMWMyZTRhZjYxZDY1NWVlZDQ2YjUyZDA0YTQ2NjBlZDE5ZGM3OTg4YzA4 : Made in America, Summer of Soul deftly weaves the mood of the time and the long history of Black expression through music into this one . He finds out about the Africans involved in the slave trade, visits plantations and explores specific personalities along the way. NzNmZmFiMTg0ZDNkZGIxMThjMWRiNmExMGRlMzYyYTUxNTc0MjRmNzRlNzVh We had a kind of a paper trail. The Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969 in the documentary Summer of Soul. King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The 5th Dimension, The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson, Ray Barretto, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln. Stream Tina on HBO Max. Despite having only two sets of recordings and a few grainy pictures, Johnsons small library of music has influenced just about everyone who has picked up a guitar since the late 1930s. 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. And so kind of rule No. I guess we can kind of blame Michael Jackson for this, for like turning it up a notch, you know. Last, but not least, a highly celebrated event for Black people to assemble and truly live nostalgically. And some people started to dismiss Motown-style choreography as being too showbizzy (ph). (opens in new tab). THE EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS: (Singing) Oh, happy day. 0:57. Eating is a necessity, of course, but soul food is made to be savored and enjoyed. Friends and colleagues are on hand to discuss Kings state of mind near the end of his life, and it may not be what you think. Stream A Band Called Death on Prime Video (with Fandor Channel). Of course, not having - like, it could have just started with I have the phone number of the Staple Singers. But really, it's just the audacity to dream. ZTEyYjJiNTU3M2ZmOWRlMjQ4NjE3YmVkMDVjNTM2NDIyNWEyMjMxM2VjNGY0 | by Mark Montgomery French | Festival Peak 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. 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. Like we were saying, like, he's the person who got the commitments from everyone and made the promises and did the deals. I mean, there are plenty of artists that got blackballed or dealt with for speaking out their political views. Sometimes we were called the Black group with the white sound. The new documentary he directed is called "Summer Of Soul." 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. Fan of the blues or interesting stories? The documentary, about the long-overlooked Harlem Cultural. What started as a one-time event in 1995 has become one of the longest-running, most attended Black festivals in the country. on the right for the latest news & updates from the Black Music Festival Date: Sunday 28th August 2022 Bank Holiday Sunday @Potternewton Park, LS7 4HB :@blackmusicfestivalleeds :@BLKMusicFest :@BLKMusicFest #BLKMusicFes :[email protected] :+44 0113 307 0300 Your here Home Lastest Tweets : @BlkMusicFest Billy knew exactly what to do because Billy sang gospel in his teen years. About 40 hours of performances were recorded on video by Hal Tulchin. And this is really a terrific performance. All rights reserved. ZDY1Y2Q3NDg5YWY0NzVlMWE1ZDlkNzY0ZDM5YzYxMjYzYzJmZTc0MzFhYjc1 Like, I'm a person that believes that, you know, less is more. Aretha was sort of an 11th-hour cancellation in less than 48 hours. Last year, tons of musicians and empowerment speakers came together to set the foundation for what will be an annual event devoted to building up Black women through music and day-time sessions. It was just more magic to me when less is more. It's just been great to talk with you again. You know, of all the cities that sort of went into turmoil during the aftermath of Martin Luther King's assassination, Harlem probably got hit the hardest of all, as far as rioting is concerned. Throughout, people like Kerry Washington and Maya Angelou talk about their own experiences with their hair. QUESTLOVE: Yeah, it's evolved now. And suddenly, all this other music is seeping into me. I realize that the inflation, you know, is different. QUESTLOVE: Pretty much, you know, a lot of it was just to jog their memory. MmVmMmZlNzg3NTAzMWMwMDBlMDU0NGVhYzhkMTkwYTc2YTM1ZTdhYWNhNzgx GROSS: Yeah. GROSS: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson directed the new documentary "Summer Of Soul," which is streaming on Hulu. Director Hal Tulchin Stars The 5th Dimension Gladys Knight & The Pips Stream Hitsville: The Making Of Motown on Showtime. They say this festival is for the aunties, but wed like to think with events and activations happening all over the city, there is something for everybody. Instead I heard it through the grapevine. ), The Roots Questlove makes his directorial debut with this exploration of the 1969 Harlem Culture Festival. Oh, I heard it through the grapevine. Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios, Questlove Discusses His Must-See New Doc, 'Summer Of Soul', Questlove's Roots: A 'Meta' Memoir Of A Lifetime In Music, Questlove Aims To Save Your Brain: 'Creativity Might Be In Jeopardy', Questlove On Prince, Doo-Wop And The Food Equivalent Of The 'Mona Lisa', 'Food Is Social Adhesive,' So Questlove Is Hosting A Virtual Potluck. Just documenting their jaw-dropping live work would add up to an amazing concert film. This film uses interviews with celebs like Whoopi Goldberg, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Debbie Allen, John Boyega and more to talk about the onscreen, offscreen and mean green of what it means to be Black in Hollywood. This documentary tracks how soul food came to be, starting in Africa, running through slavery and all the changes that have happened since. Purchase your tickets to any of their festival dates, year-round. And of course, if you say that, then, you know, David Ruffin will say, wait, wait, Stevie's doing it? GROSS: That's the Edwin Hawkins Singers performing at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, featured in the new documentary about that festival. And I think really probably no one knew what to expect. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the late rapper and interviews with those who knew and loved him the most, this must-watch documentary is an emotional and powerful love letter to one of the biggest victims of the East Coast/West Coast feud prevalent in the 90s rap world. Heres how it works. And the same for Edwin Hawkins Singers, "Oh Happy Day" being so popular that they would do it in concert, in nightclubs and whatnot. Attendees of this year's Visions of the Black Experience Film Festival will have the opportunity to screen dozens of new films during the event which kicks off Friday. Copyright 2021 NPR. You haven't booked a hotel yet?!?! The 2023 Sol Blume lineup: Brent Faiyaz will. Its mix of music & ideals resonate now more than ever. It is centered around the success of the American EDM festival, Electric Daisy Carnival. Stream Charley Pride: Im Just Me on Kanopy. Monatge of Heck (2015) Cobain: Montage Of Heck. So now it's like, OK, well, let me get the Van Halen catalog. This is FRESH AIR. -----END REPORT-----. 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. Related: Try Not To Laugh Along With the 41 Best Black Comedy Movies of All Time. QUESTLOVE: Absolutely. So when you first started watching these approximately 40 hours of concert footage, what did you find most surprising or most exciting? 10. Even though it could be very hip-hop, it's still just, like, so elaborate and staged. hide caption. June 25, 2021 B.B. Even though choreography has totally 100% sort of went into overdrive throughout the years, I marvel at the simplicity. Like, that was his friend. And he's the one who got everybody to sign on. So that's even unprecedented, because I'm used to, like, each background singer having their own microphone. I can't imagine him not. Crafted from footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival - an event so filled with stars from soul, R&B, blues and jazz they called it the Black Woodstock - Summer of Soul is a breathtaking. A couple of hours were shown on local TV in New York. I'm still hoping to this day that this somehow reaches him or a family member, somebody. says McCoo, tearing up while she watched footage of the group performing another hit, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In. NjRhOWQzODM0MzNkMDQ3NjM1NzU5ZDdkYTY4NWRkZjM3Yzg0N2VjZmE3NmRi By 1969, the country had already endured the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.; the film suggests one reason city officials backed the festival was in hope the celebration would prevent rioting on the anniversary of King's murder. Rent/Buy Summer of Soul on Amazon. (opens in new tab) Take a look at our list of the following Black music festivals from around the world and start saving for your ticket. And sometimes it's exhausting. "We were constantly being attacked because we weren't, quote-unquote, 'Black enough,' " says Marilyn McCoo, a member of the velvety-smooth, all-Black pop vocal group The 5th Dimension. The star-studded global music festival has reunited rap duo The Clipse, musical icon Missy Elliott with Timbaland and Magoo, as well as a number of other reminiscent artists that Pharell is affiliated with. 9. The 2012 documentary A Band Called Death sheds light on the oft forgotten punk pioneers who only became a hit in the decades following their split and follows the surviving members as they get back together in 2009. Related: 30 Black Americans to Celebrate During Black History Month. And that's another thing, like, with the gospel portion, a lot of gospel acts were catching fire because the church felt like it was sinful for them to sing in that style but not sing about just the lord. And so the fact that Sly the Family Stone is performing in their street clothes is such a shock to the audience. Not much longer would you be mine - not much longer would you be mine. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated one year earlier. Some are well-known, like slavery, while others are less-known, such as the story of free Black people in New Orleans during the antebellum period. From the 1970s until today, this style of music emerged from Black, inner-city neighborhoods to become a mega-popular genre among white suburban and upper-class neighborhoods, too. So that was really emotional for them to see him as a 19-year-old. YjBhOGRmNTE0MmQzMTJjMzZhNGRlOGRjMDI1NGQyNWU5ZTI5MWNmNGIyMzM5 MGYwZjNlOGJiZGYwZmE4ZmNkZjQ2NTE2MTIzNDQwYTc3NDgwYzcyMmYwMzA3 Woodstock started as a music festival but became something more. In honor of Black History Month, we are celebrating these iconic voices with a quick yet comprehensive rundown of some of the best music documentaries you can watch right now with a Netflix. Oh, happy day. 1. Oh, happy day, when Jesus washed, when Jesus washed, when he washed, when Jesus washed, he washed all my sins away. (opens in new tab). And it's like - it's hand gestures and, like, steps to the side, synchronized. I saw those signs that said white waiting, colored waiting; white men, colored men and I wanted to do something about it. 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. I'll do it, Ahmir. Have you thought about how music choreography has changed and how expectations have changed about what you're going to see on stage? I mean, he was not, like, a big-name producer. Tip: Take the train to the festival because parking and traffic in Atlanta is a very painful experience. GROSS: Yeah, she sang "Mister Backlash," which is also just a very political song. He has reclaimed a crucial moment in history, reminding the world of the resilience and power of Black culture in the process. Stream Nas: Time Is Illmatic on Plex. Tip: Your outfits will be admired, but still dress comfortably and stay hydrated. 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. The festival is hosted around the world so the culture can experience Black music everywhere. Let's get back to my interview with Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. GROSS: Let me reintroduce you here because it's time for another break. When I get to heaven - oh, happy day - I'm gonna spread the news - oh, happy day. If you want some nostalgia and feel like grooving to artists you may not be familiar with, this could be a good choice. Nina Simone is one of the real standout performers in it. Thats why Black documentaries can be so exciting; there are so many things to learn about. This film is like a warning, a last chance, Peck has said. 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. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. GROSS: Oh, sure. Theres a lot to unpack, so lets get started. This PBS documentary series features Professor Henry Louis Gates, who travels to Africa and throughout the United States to provide a complete picture of the Black experience in this country. . 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. Did he pay people on time? The tape sat in his basement for about 50 years. One Musicfest is an urban progressive music experience that gathers over 50,000 music lovers together for a variety of events in one weekend. 120 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Avenue PlaceSuite 2800Pittsburgh, PA 15222U.S. 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. The film doesnt give one definitive answer for why Black women get relaxers and wear weaves (it also ignores the fact that some white women get perms and wear extensions)--but it does shed light on a topic that many non-Black people dont know anything about. The 7th Annual Black Music Honors, hosted by Grammy-winner LeToya Luckett and comedian DeRay Davis, took place in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on May 19 and will premiere. 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. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's look back at the legendary 1969 concert events in Harlem that came to be known as Black Woodstock. They pride themselves on keeping the lineup 50/50 in gender and bringing artists that dont typically frequent Europe like Lil Wayne, who was actually banned in the UK for the past 15 years. 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