Under The Electric Sky (2014) This documentary actually made my heart flutter. Philip grew up in Louisiana (not New Orleans) before moving to St. Louis after graduating from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. 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. Stream The Apollo on HBO Max. Stream Hitsville: The Making Of Motown on Showtime. 120 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Avenue PlaceSuite 2800Pittsburgh, PA 15222U.S. 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. GROSS: And Edwin Hawkins says in the movie, like, no, this is our way of taking the message to the people. So every day, this is happening. Fan of the blues or interesting stories? 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. But the Woodstock Festival, which took place that same summer, completely overshadowed the Harlem Cultural Festival. 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. The most eclectic gathering of Black people around the world is Afropunk. 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. NzBlZjE0NDk1MWNlYjAzYTY4MjVmYjY2MTVhODVmYWZhMGMwY2Y1MzAzZjQ4 Yes. When I get to heaven - oh, happy day - I'm gonna spread the news - oh, happy day. Everythings made for white kids because this school was made for white kids because this country was made for white kids, says one exasperated student. Ain't nothing wrong with that, is there? Wherever you experience Afronation, youll be sure to have multiple stages creating vibes from day to night and a beach nearby to make waves during your vacation. June 25, 2021 B.B. (opens in new tab) And mixed in this will be a clip of of Marilyn McCoo watching The 5th Dimension perform in 1969. This highly personal, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most complicated men in the history of 20th-Century music doesnt really hold back in its depiction of Davis, which makes it all the better. Rent/Buy Summer of Soul on Amazon. Afropunk can be experienced in South Africa, France, United States, or South America. Questlove is also the co-founder of the band The Roots, which is the house band of "The Tonight Show," where Questlove is music director. When an editor there changed words in one of her stories from "Black" to "negro," she responded with an 11-page memo that convinced editor Abe Rosenthal to update the paper's policy. Your access to this site was blocked by Wordfence, a security provider, who protects sites from malicious activity. If you are a longtime fan of James Brown or are just now getting into his music, this is a documentary you cant miss. And some people started to dismiss Motown-style choreography as being too showbizzy (ph). Unlike many documentaries that cover this event, this one dives deep into. GROSS: The festival represented different strains of Black music - you know, jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, Latin music. Copyright 2021 NPR. QUESTLOVE: It's still elaborate to me because when you're watching the Pips perform, you're not seeing like traditional one, two, three, four. Last, but not least, a highly celebrated event for Black people to assemble and truly live nostalgically. Buy Nas: Time Is Illmatic on Amazon. If you want to know about all the new documentaries (and feature films) coming out this year, check out CinemaBlends 2023 new movies schedule. Well, hell yeah, I'm going to do it. And she's just standing almost perfectly still (laughter). 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. And the Pips were working. MGYwZjNlOGJiZGYwZmE4ZmNkZjQ2NTE2MTIzNDQwYTc3NDgwYzcyMmYwMzA3 ZjZhODFkMzY2MzYxOTQ1YmZlMDU0MTRkN2RlYWM4ODFlNWQ5MDQ2ZDAyMzM3 GROSS: Do you know if he delivered on his promises? LEILA FADEL, HOST: A long-forgotten Harlem event finally gets its due in the new concert documentary, "Summer Of Soul." GROSS: Congratulations on the movie. (opens in new tab) If you believe Wordfence should be allowing you access to this site, please let them know using the steps below so they can investigate why this is happening. He has reclaimed a crucial moment in history, reminding the world of the resilience and power of Black culture in the process. Phone: 412.281.7711 Toll Free: 877.568.3744, Pittsburgh Celebrates Juneteenth Freedom Day. And, you know, but again, you're only dealing with 16 channels. Updated on: January 20, 2023 / 10:01 PM / CBS News. eyJtZXNzYWdlIjoiYjNkMGY4YzY0MDUzNTM3ZTcxMDJiYjhhMGJiNzkwMDU1 The movie, scheduled for a Black Harvest Film Festival premiere, details how local music continues to be locked in an ongoing rivalry for respect at home and abroad. Opening to rave. ZjM3MWJlZmJiNWQzNjhkZmZmMTU5MTZlY2NjMzAzM2VjOGY1YTBmYzRmMGEx OTIzYjk4MmM5NWM0NzM3MWEzNmRhNmIyNGZhYjdkMzMzMGEwN2VmNGNmNmUw QUESTLOVE: Well, yeah, every day I'm getting a new revelation. But watch a little longer, as Wonder sits behind a drumkit to whip off a crackling drum solo. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated one year earlier. Now it its 27th year, the American Black Film Festival is an annual event that empowers Black artists and showcases a wide range of entertainment content made by and about people of African descent. So I want to play an excerpt of their performance - of The 5th Dimension's performance - at the Harlem Cultural Festival. Whoa, yes I am. And it says in the movie that some of them were wearing, like, the Black Panther uniform of the beret and the, you know, black lapel leather jacket and everything, so you can recognize them as Panthers. And he was working with the Band of Gypsys, which is QUESTLOVE: Buddy Miles and Billy Cox. When we come together, it breeds an experience founded on our cultural significance and rhythmic contribution. The music festivals named above, Essence Festival, Afropunk, Lovers and Friends, all aim to bring people together for the sake of Black culture. My guest is Questlove. 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. King, Ray Barretto, The Temptations' former frontman David Ruffin, The 5th Dimension, and more. MTA5YWI3OWJhM2I1M2Q2NWRlZGQ2NTQyZTk3ZDdhMzliMTUxODdlZjk5MTQz Like, to look at anyone over the age of 22, 23, they're looking at them like they're aliens, like wait, we've never seen an intersectional band. MmVmMmZlNzg3NTAzMWMwMDBlMDU0NGVhYzhkMTkwYTc2YTM1ZTdhYWNhNzgx But really, it's just the audacity to dream. Like, we've never been in front of a crowd like this before. The gospel song was a favorite of civil rights leader Rev. And as a result, there was absolutely no incidents whatsoever, which, you know, I hate to say this, but, you know, in comparing it to that other festival, I was going to say that if even 5% of the things that happened at Woodstock happened at the Harlem Cultural Festival, then there is a possibility that you would have heard of this festival but sort of painted in that Altamont light, you know, the position that Altamont has with the Rolling Stones being the tragic version QUESTLOVE: Being the tragic version of what happens at a festival. Oh, happy day. Sometimes we were called the Black group with the white sound. Her creation of the Strength of a Woman Festival is a vibrant three days of comedy, music, and community keeping women at the forefront of the experience. Matthew Allen is a Brooklyn-based TV producer, director and award-winning . (opens in new tab). She gave it to us good. -----END REPORT-----. Why is - like, a white guy is the drummer in a Black group? The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. So I believe that when you see her crying, that's the exhaust feeling of a life of code switching sort of to make people comfortable. 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? My guest, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, has made his directorial debut with the new documentary "Summer Of Soul." ZTAzODI5ZWI5NzlmZTM5NWExN2FmZDZiNTkxZTMwMDNmZDI3NTBlYTFiNWY5 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. Signed Black Music Festival T-Shirts - on sale now! Sly was the the one act that wasn't billed to be on the festival. 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. And of course, if you say that, then, you know, David Ruffin will say, wait, wait, Stevie's doing it? 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. About 40 hours of performances were recorded on video by Hal Tulchin. 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. QUESTLOVE: He totally did. When he's not writing about movies or television, Philip can be found being chased by his three kids, telling his dogs to stop yelling at the mailman, or yelling about professional wrestling to his wife. MWE5ZTE4MzUyZjZhN2FkMGRmM2Q2YjA3ZTRlMGExYzc3OTIzNmUxMjFkNTRi But yeah, that's one of the biggest mysteries of the family. The roster of performers included Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, The Staples Singers, B.B. Tip: Your outfits will be admired, but still dress comfortably and stay hydrated. 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. ", "That was one of the reasons why performing in Harlem was so important to us," she adds, voice cracking. This incredible rise to fame, as well as his tragic death just weeks before the release of his sophomore effort, Life After Death, is explored in great detail in the 2021 Netflix documentary, Biggie: I Got A Story to Tell. QUESTLOVE: Yeah. ZDg1MDZmMjFjMDhjZDBkY2FlNDZiNGEyYzUxYzBiYzE2Njk4ZDFhYTNkZTAz In his documentary, "The Story of the Ozark Music Festival: Three Days of Sodom and Gomorrah in Sedalia, Missouri," Lujin travels back to the summer of '74 . The 2023 Festival is free. He directed the new film "Summer Of Soul," which features performances from and interviews about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a series of six free concerts at Mount Morris Park in Harlem between June and August of 1969. The documentary is called "Summer Of Soul," and my guest, Questlove, directed it. WSF and Stax (along with sponsor Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company) became the first groups to promote a sold-out black event of this magnitude. We didn't know anything about therapists. You want to know something even weirder? 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. YmQwNTM3YTQ0NzRhMDZiN2NkYWM5NDM4ZjhlZjliMzZiOTczODk0ODEzMWU4 Let's get back to my interview with Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. 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