Related: 30 Black Americans to Celebrate During Black History Month. We'll talk more after a break. Just over 27 years ago, the world lost Kurt Cobain. QUESTLOVE: Yeah. And he directed the new concert documentary, "The Summer Of Soul," which features performances from and interviews about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. And that's the thing. Just documenting their jaw-dropping live work would add up to an amazing concert film. says McCoo, tearing up while she watched footage of the group performing another hit, "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In. But she introduced the song "To Be Young, Gifted And Black," which was inspired by the off-Broadway show of the same name. This documentary tracks how soul food came to be, starting in Africa, running through slavery and all the changes that have happened since. 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. There are few, if any, hip hop artists who could stand toe-to-toe with Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. 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. That footage, however, wouldnt see the light of day until after Franklins 2018 death. Stream Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool on Netflix. And the singer, you know, the singer has so much spirit, the lead singer. Spike Lee directed this documentary about the 1963 Birmingham, Alabama church bombing that killed four Black girls. : 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 . It's Marvel's first movie to feature an Asian superhero. Like, they're doing - it's almost like watching yoga to rhythm. A Questlove jawn, 'Summer of Soul' (Hulu) broadcasts previously unseen footage of the performances at 1969's Harlem Cultural Festival while giving voice to the larger forces at work in Black . And their whole disposition was basically like, you know, you must wear a tuxedo all the time. (opens in new tab) Generated by Wordfence at Wed, 1 Mar 2023 12:58:07 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. 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. NzQ2MjJjNWNhNjU4NzBlOWM5MDEwMGM3NjYzMWI2ZGI5YjI3MzllNWJhMzFk But right before Mahalia Jackson went on stage, she asked Mavis Staples for a favor. 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. 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. One of the only festivals to get Childish Gambino to do his full tour set at the FedEx stadium that one year, this musical experience is surrounded by Black-owned food and opportunities for social impact in the community. Stream Tina on HBO Max. She read a poem by David Nelson of The Last Poets, which was a pretty radical poem about being ready to smash things. Let the sunshine in. I mean, it really is a historic document. NWFjNjg3MzY4ZTMwNWEzZWM4N2VmOTg4ZDFlNmViZDA2ODQwMGMwMzdmZDQz QUESTLOVE: Besides the previous two Harlem Cultural Festival events, which wasn't hardly the size magnitude of the one that happened at Mount Morris Park, I believe that that answer would be no. "As far as I could see, it was just Black people," says screenwriter and producer Musa Jackson, who was a child when he attended the festival. ZjZhODFkMzY2MzYxOTQ1YmZlMDU0MTRkN2RlYWM4ODFlNWQ5MDQ2ZDAyMzM3 Colorism is often talked about in the Black community and its a topic that white people havent thought about very much. On top of bringing us the best musical performances, these multi-day festivals typically include unique food courts, opportunities for networking, and after parties youll never forget. 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." Thats why Black documentaries can be so exciting; there are so many things to learn about. So, yeah. And somehow, like, we just lost track of him in 1982. And that's because he grew up watching like old, you know, Fred Astaire and Broadway musicals as a kid. The roster of performers representing different strains of Black and Latino music included Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone, B.B. Whoa, yes I am. And then theres the 2019 documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, which does an incredible job of unpacking the improbable and mythical story of the jazz pioneer. 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. Rent/Buy Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown on Amazon. Stream Nas: Time Is Illmatic on Plex. Because he's such an important figure in all of this. We don't have the rights to play her performance. MjFmN2FiZDdhMmFhNWJjOGFlZGY2NmRhNmJlYmYwMGU3NDBhZmNmNDBiOTRj And so that, you know, precious lord summit meeting that I call it really wasn't planned. Watch on. So when you see her cry, it's relief of finally being accepted by your own people, which is important. Oh, yeah, good God, oh, yes. NDBhMDE1M2U0YTcwZWU5MTMwODM2MmJmZTQ4YTNjM2UwOWJjYzUxMDQ3NDVh It's just been great to talk with you again. '20,000 Species of Bees' star Sofa Otero becomes the youngest-ever winner of Berlin's Silver Bear for best leading performance. Originally broadcast July 2021. This is a great one to binge; there are 4 seasons worth of hip-hop to learn about. Taking place in 1969 Harlem, the doc follows a magical six weeks of summer during the Harlem Culture Festival. Why is - like, a white guy is the drummer in a Black group? YmQwNTM3YTQ0NzRhMDZiN2NkYWM5NDM4ZjhlZjliMzZiOTczODk0ODEzMWU4 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. This is just barely scratching the surface of all the great music documentaries to watch in honor of Black History Month (and beyond for that matter), so dont just stop your search with this list. But, yeah. The Strength of a Woman festival is very similar to the Essence Festival but on a smaller scale. QUESTLOVE: Well, I thank you for having me, and I really enjoy doing your show all the time. Her expertise as a music journalist gives a glance into how Black culture . The next night we're with, you know, A Tribe Called Quest or the Fugees. (SOUNDBITE OF STEVIE WONDER'S "SHOO-BE-DOO-BE-DOO-DA-DAY"). You'll have to watch to see if you agree or not. GROSS: So do you think of that as code switching or as just, like, being loved by different audiences? P art concert film and part historical record, the documentary focuses on the massive Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969, a celebration of Black history, culture and fashion that featured . NDZiMzljNjRmNTMxZjRiOGI5YzNjYWQ1MWQxYTJhMGQwNWQ2ZDhiOCIsInNp Disney -owned ABC announced it will air the film directed by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in primetime on Sunday, February 20. How are they all doing this at the same time without an actual, like, rhythmic step? We didn't go lay on a couch. ZjM3MWJlZmJiNWQzNjhkZmZmMTU5MTZlY2NjMzAzM2VjOGY1YTBmYzRmMGEx So how do you get B.B. This personal and enlightening film is a must for fans of punk who want to learn more about one of the best forgotten bands. And he's the one who got everybody to sign on. Please refresh the page and try again. Stream Summer of Soul on Hulu. The ESSENCE Festival is an annual festival where people gather for three days of music, entertainment, empowerment and culture in New Orleans, LA. A lot of people thought they were white because they were considered very middle-of-the-road, songs like "Up, Up And Away.". 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. Before Woodstock in 1969, there was another memorable music festival playing about 100 miles away, with all-star lineups including Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie . Like, it's juggling plates in the kitchen, like, 20 plates at a time. 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. QUESTLOVE: Probably the most distinct way that I could describe it - if you're at all familiar with, like, Adam Sandler's character in "Uncut Gems," which is the bad version of this hustler, but it's almost like a person that will have to rob Peter to pay Paul, that sort of thing. There are interviews with activist Stokely Carmichael, his mother in an impromptu interview, activist Angela Davis and more of those involved in the Black Power Movement, and those are interspersed with contemporary interviews with people like Erykah Badu, the Last Poets' Abiodun Oyewole and rapper Talib Kweli. So now it's like, OK, well, let me get the Van Halen catalog. Sidney Madden is a co-host of NPR's podcast "Louder Than a Riot," which focuses on the intersections of music and culture. I'm wondering, like, how are they not punching each other with their arms and their - like, all their limbs are being utilized. Thank you. A wide constellation of stars turned up for the festival, which drew more than 300,000 people over six free concerts held in the space now known as Marcus Garvey Park. 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. For instance, Ali has an easier time bonding with Africans than Foreman did; theres a dictator in Zaire who is very interested in the fight. So I want to play an excerpt of their performance - of The 5th Dimension's performance - at the Harlem Cultural Festival. The film lines up an impressive array of voices for new interviews, including Chris Rock, Sheila E., Lin-Manuel Miranda and his father, Luis Miranda. "We didn't go to a psychiatrist. 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. If you have Ari Lennox, Summer Walker, Outkast, and Soulja Boy on your playlists you may want to check this festival out at least once. 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. GROSS: Yeah. And, you know, he's considering it, too. QUESTLOVE: Yeah. 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. You would have probably heard about the Harlem Cultural Festival. So, yeah, it was even risky for those well-loved gospel acts that we know. 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. Look no further. But Summer of Soul uses the music as both inspiration and foundation, setting the scene for subjects to talk about everything from the debate over non-violence in civil rights work to Harlem's status as a cultural oasis for Black people. And how do you color - that used to be one of our questions - how do you color a sound? "The fact that 40 hours of this footage was kept from the public is living proof that revisionist history exists," says Questlove, quoted in the film's press materials. Where to watch: Netflix and YouTube here. The roster of performers included Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, The Staples Singers, B.B. Mark Montgomery French 46 Followers Film Composer, Music Historian, Podcaster, and YouTuber. Oh, I heard it through the grapevine. Layovers can get pretty long. This review is part of our Sundance 2021 coverage.. We've never seen women play the trumpet. Stream A Band Called Death on Prime Video (with Fandor Channel). 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. June 25, 2021 B.B. And unfortunately, we can't play her performance. He taught me how - oh, he taught me how, oh, yeah - to watch, fight and pray. Please click the video above or the mixcloud link / button below to watch our virtual show. But at the end, he was also like, yes, and I know that you're wondering about the history of your grandfather. Oh, happy day. New York, He describes his new film as his chance to restore history. Related: Black Booksellers Recommend 25 Books to Read During Black History Month and Beyond. America to Me covers one year at the Chicago area Oak Park and River Forest High School. "Summer of Soul" shows us that what unfolded on an outdoor stage in . This is FRESH AIR. Oh, happy day. Copyright 2021 NPR. And in the case of the Gladys Knight and the Pips performance, first of all, they're doing it on one microphone. This 1969 Music Fest Has Been Called 'Black Woodstock.' Why Doesn't Anyone Remember? Rent/Buy Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool on Amazon. So, yeah, in a way it's genuine love, but in a lot of ways, it's survival. 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. ZDg1MDZmMjFjMDhjZDBkY2FlNDZiNGEyYzUxYzBiYzE2Njk4ZDFhYTNkZTAz 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. Whoa, yes I am. 9. The gospel song was a favorite of civil rights leader Rev. He has a new book that will be published in the fall called "Music Is History," focusing on 1971 to the present. So Tony Lawrence, he was the host of the festival, but also the producer of it. Did you get to interview any of the Panthers who were there? Simultaneous to the groundbreaking 1969 Woodstock music festival (the subject of its own Academy Award-winning documentary in 1970), the Harlem Cultural Festival was held at Mount Morris. Your access to this site was blocked by Wordfence, a security provider, who protects sites from malicious activity. QUESTLOVE: There's excitement because, like, Sly wasn't even supposed to be on the bill. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. Yjk5NmJiZDUzYjdmMDAwYTIxYjc2YTJmNmMzOGY4MTUyMTMxODA3YzU4ZTVl The TV veteran was approached over the years by. The Black Fire Documentary is a story about an independent jazz label and its connections to modern music through Hip Hop & Neo-Soul; via artists that sampled or were influenced by Plunky/Black Fire (J Dilla, Madlib, The Roots, Questlove, Big Pun, KRS ONE etc.). 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. Festival: A Documentary 2018 TV-MA 1 h 25 m IMDb RATING 7.7 /10 26 YOUR RATING Rate Documentary Music When 100k people descend on a music festival weekend, these are the stories they bring with them. ZjFhZjJlYzM3ZDY0MGY5OGYyNWQ2NzUzMGE4MDFiOThkYWMwNjI4YmQxYmY5 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. Lovers and Friends Festival in Las Vegas, NV. We see her. The festival is hosted around the world so the culture can experience Black music everywhere. The tape sat in his basement for about 50 years. Sly was the the one act that wasn't billed to be on the festival. (opens in new tab) There was a problem. ZDY1Y2Q3NDg5YWY0NzVlMWE1ZDlkNzY0ZDM5YzYxMjYzYzJmZTc0MzFhYjc1 Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine? 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. We had a kind of a paper trail. 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