Black Music in America - ca. mid-1970's

This tremendous educational documentary from the mid-1970's examines the priceless contributions of African-Americans to musical heritage, so closely tied to their unique history in the United States. From Africa upon slave ships captive immigrants brought with them melodies, cadences and rhythms that inarguably gave rise to music considered 'modern' today.

Beginning with the genius Louis Armstrong's triumphant return to Ghana in the late 1950's, we trace the evolution of music from West Africa to the Virginia colonies of the early 1600's. Over the next 400 years, as this distinct root of American culture takes hold, incredible clips of filmed performances by Mahalia Jackson, Josephine Baker, Bessie Smith, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, and Duke Ellington illustrate the black experience.

Contemporary musicians such as Nina Simone, BB King, Cannonball Adderly (w/ Joe Zawinal - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy), and Sly & the Family Stone, along with a funky-ass filmed number from an as-yet-undocumented-on-the-internet off-Broadway production called "The Me Nobody Knew" punctuate the memory of the past, the spontaneity of the moment and determination for the future.

See more at:
http://www.weirdovideo.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mahalia
• Jackson
• Josephine
• Baker
• Bessie
• Smith
• Count
• Basie
• Billie
• Holiday
• Coleman
• Hawkins
• Roy
• Eldridge
• Duke
• Ellington
• Nina

[enferno00]

Not all of us black folks believe in that brainwashing religion called christianity.

[tjamassey]

Interesting. To me though the 1970s black music has to include Soul - the sylistics,Motown,Diana Ross,Trammps,Tavaris etc

[dggd]

@camoflaugetampex Amen to that! Should have kept it in the hood!

[rafaelrosad2387]

Thank you for sharing this fine piece. Very inspiring! (as always, btw)

[ChowMeinChowdown]

What we need is the soul (with a real history to boot) that basically inspired such beautiful music, and not some culturally appropriated version of it that departs from the essence of the music. There was no level playing field from the beginning of the 20th century. Earlier colonialism and then the contemporaneous capitalism scam did well to ensure that. People need to wake up.

[kwacou]

@XxMindofaRavenxX You forgot, Salsa,Son,Samba,Cumbia,Tango,M­erengue, Bachata,Calypso,Spooge, nearly all the music of the Americas from the top of Canada to the bottom of Argentina.

[XxMindofaRavenxX]

Jazz, Blues, Rock n Roll, Reggae,Hip Hop, Techno, Soul, R&B, Deewop, Gospel, Disco, Funk, Go-Go, African Folk. All music Originated aka Created By Black Culture

[sne19]

nina simone

[Paulwander]

@bumbacutthoat

There is but one God - Race

[AlexandreKarat]

I am a musician and want to sing blues in America, I speak today in Brazil. I want a good producer.

[MBOYYO]

oh wait? so whats white american music? country? :S