Like, who knew that you could get Sly and the Family Stone for just $2,500 back then (laughter). Keep reading for our recommendations of 21 Black documentaries that educate, entertain and inspire. Rent/Buy Amazing Grace on Amazon. QUESTLOVE: OK. Whoa, I heard it through the grapevine. You know, like, Gladys Knight seems, like, so surprised that there's such a big crowd. And his new documentary is called "Summer Of Soul." Because he's such an important figure in all of this. NTgyOGY5YWNmNDMzZjM0YWVhNTRmYzMyYjNkMDdjMzZkNTdkYmY1NGM2YzU2 This is FRESH AIR. #BeSafe And he explained to us that at the very beginning, the police didn't want to provide security for the festival, basically, because of what had happened the year before. GROSS: Do you know if he delivered on his promises? The winner of two Sundance Festival awards (and nominated for an Oscar! Create,Discover & Experience EventsFor The Culture At Eventnoire. But right before Mahalia Jackson went on stage, she asked Mavis Staples for a favor. Please click the video above or the mixcloud link / button below to watch our virtual show. And I think this is one of the real standout performances in the movie. 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. Formerly known as AfroChella, the two-day Afrofuture festival celebrates the culture as the African Diaspora returns to Accra, Ghana every December. Stream A Band Called Death on Prime Video (with Fandor Channel). It was very moving to see the significance that this had for her and for Billy Davis. Like, why would you guys even entertain this thought? King performing at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, featured in the documentary 'Summer of Soul.' Searchlight Pictures If you had walked up to Harlem 's Mount Morris. I'm wondering, like, how did he do that? And unfortunately, we can't play her performance. Al Sharpton says, earlier in the film. NDBhMDE1M2U0YTcwZWU5MTMwODM2MmJmZTQ4YTNjM2UwOWJjYzUxMDQ3NDVh ZDU2ZGJjODE4OTI3ODE5ZDkzZDBhZDJhMTRjIn0= Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). "Sometimes, we were called the Black group with the white sound we didn't like that because, how do you color a sound?" Sidney Madden is a co-host of NPR's podcast "Louder Than a Riot," which focuses on the intersections of music and culture. King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The 5th Dimension, The Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson, Ray Barretto, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln. All rights reserved. Oh, yeah, good God, oh, yes. MDJhOGRlMzg2OTVmYzk1MjBhMmVjYzJlM2NkZDk2YzZjMzY0NDllY2MwMjAx 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. Fan of the blues or interesting stories? 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. That's why the work of Questlove and his producers in unearthing the footage and shaping it into such an emotional, nostalgic, insightful story is so important. And he's saying, you know, basically telling him to stop. And tens of thousands of people attended, mostly Black and brown. After coming onto the scene with his landmark 1994 debut album Ready to Die, the rapper also known as Biggie Smalls became one of the biggest names in the music industry, dropping unforgettable tracks like Juicy, Big Poppa, and Gimme the Loot, to name only a few. I was commenting to Billy Davis that, you know, in all the performances I've seen of The 5th Dimension, I've never heard you use sort of your gospel growl, your James Brown sermon preacher (imitating James Brown) hey, dig it - you know, that sort of thing. Dark Girls even spawned a sequel; Dark Girls 2 can be seen on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Oh, I heard it through the grapevine. Finally, the Black Fire Documentary is a story about Family / Legacy and how Jamiah . Why is - like, a white guy is the drummer in a Black group? NmE0ZTdkOTYxMGVjMTgxNTk1OWYxNmFiYjEwYjZjNDIwY2Q4Yzg5MzcwZmEy 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. 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 . But the Woodstock Festival, which took place that same summer, completely overshadowed the Harlem Cultural Festival. Nina Simone is one of the real standout performers in it. This documentary highlights the human experience of music festivals and it really was heartwarming to someone that truly loves EDM music and raving. And the singer, you know, the singer has so much spirit, the lead singer. He's also an author, and his new book, "Music Is History" - focusing on 1971 to the present - will be published in the fall. The Los Angeles Coliseum, holding 100,000 people, was sold out . Antidote Films/Sony Pictures. The Roots co-founder sought to change that. (opens in new tab), Trailblazing the country singer-songwriter Charley Pride, who passed away in December 2020, spent most of his life breaking down walls and opening doors for other Black artists in the world of country music with hits like Kiss an Angel Good Mornin, All I Have to Offer You (Is Me), and Im Just Me, the latter of which is also the name of the 2019 PBS documentary, Charley Pride: Im Just Me. If youre a Gen Xer, your parents probably had you watching this one as a kid. Director Hal Tulchin Stars The 5th Dimension Gladys Knight & The Pips Jamila Wignot's portrait of a modern dance visionary who carved out space for Black performers and Black stories in 1950s New York City. But unfortunately, what the festival organizers didn't know was that Jimi himself was going through his own transformative period, of which by the end of '69, in the last eight months of his life, he was kind of tired of being the novelty act of like this wild guy that sets his guitars on fire and does all the novelty things that made his initial audiences, like, marvel at him. And so the fact that Sly the Family Stone is performing in their street clothes is such a shock to the audience. From Portugal and Miami to Puerto Rico, this festival was birthed by a group of friends seeking to take live Afrobeat music to the world. Stream Tina on HBO Max. It celebrates many different aspects of the Black community. They were nothing like this. We were, like, looking, you know? GROSS: Well, look. QUESTLOVE: I'm like, I wouldn't even pay that to my opening DJ set. King, Mahalia Jackson, the Staple Singers, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln. As African music climbs the charts worldwide and African fashion and art intersect with Black culture, Afrofuture is the first of its kind to put it all on one stage. The Notorious B.I.G., OutKast, Gang Starr, and Common all released landmark albums that forever changed the rap game. (opens in new tab). LISA & THE LIPS GROSS: Sly, yeah. -----BEGIN REPORT----- Billy knew exactly what to do because Billy sang gospel in his teen years. The best Black music festivals carve out safe spaces for the Black community to celebrate life, culture, and their heritage through music. People are getting their memories back. The Strength of a Woman festival is very similar to the Essence Festival but on a smaller scale. Rent/Buy Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown on Amazon. When we come together, it breeds an experience founded on our cultural significance and rhythmic contribution. N2Y2YmI0MTk3OTI4NjAyNzM2M2RjNDQ1MWUwYzEyOTIwYzA2MzEwZmQ2MDU1 Not sure yet? We happened to be artists who are Black, and our voices sound the way they sound. 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. 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. The 11th annual BlackStar Film Festival was back at the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Live Arts at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with a 76-film lineup representing 27 countries. 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. NTZmYWVkNTM0N2Q0M2QxYTI4NTdkZDU5ZDE4NGU0NzAyNjNlMzdhY2YyNWVm Its a look at black culture during one of the most volatile times in U.S. history. Losing you would end my life, you see, because you mean that much to me. King, Hugh Masekela, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln. 8. It was just more magic to me when less is more. Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios And the Pips were working. Does she figure into, like, your musical life significantly? Fall season in Atlanta brings lots of color and a slew of high-profile events like the BET Hip Hop Awards, A3C, and a festival favorite. YzRmYjJjY2Y2Y2M1NGM1ZWQ1YWZiMTc3OWI2NTBmOGMxMWRlYWE0ZjBlNTYx 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. We never seen - wait. I realize that the inflation, you know, is different. 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. This personal and enlightening film is a must for fans of punk who want to learn more about one of the best forgotten bands. Yeah, no, of course. The last time you were on our show, we talked about how your grandfather, William Beachy Thompson, was a singer in the famous gospel group The Dixie Hummingbirds. Eating is a necessity, of course, but soul food is made to be savored and enjoyed. The film brings together history, culture, and politics, all tied through music that defined the contemporary times for Black communities fighting for civil rights. Over the course of modern music history, Black artists like the late Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Nas, and others have revolutionized their respective genres and have become household names in the process. And, you know, but again, you're only dealing with 16 channels. Celebrate the history and heritage of Black Music in America July 13-15, 2023, at this free festival 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. The esteemed producer brings together his favorite artists and some upcoming performers, to put on a sleek hip hop and R&B festival in his hometown Virginia Beach. The festival is hosted around the world so the culture can experience Black music everywhere. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. Combining four installments of Newport Folk Festival between 1963 and 1966, Festival is a heartfelt black-and-white portrait of American music played to a smartly dressed crowd in plaid. Through the adversity and struggles these artists went through, their drive and talent persevered and are a huge reason why people see them as legends today. And so that was it. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. And somehow, he just managed and leveraged one promise on top of another based on the what we call FOMO - fear of missing out. Updated on: January 20, 2023 / 10:01 PM / CBS News. The 2015 documentary, Miss Sharon Jones!, which premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, focuses on the final stages of Jones life and career, and shows the tireless and fearless singer undergo chemotherapy while still keeping up with touring obligations, never once losing her spirit (or allowing the cancer to get the better of her). You may be surprised by the culinary history of many American dishes as you watch this film. The festival was one year after the assassination of Martin Luther King, during the period of the Black Power movement. Overall, the film focuses on how frustrated Baldwin is with the inability of America to solve its race problems. 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. And how do you color - that used to be one of our questions - how do you color a sound? And you realize you're seeing something more. And we were hoping that they would receive us. 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. There are tons of great documentaries and concert films featuring the late artist, but few hold a candle to this powerful film. Watch on. ZTEyYjJiNTU3M2ZmOWRlMjQ4NjE3YmVkMDVjNTM2NDIyNWEyMjMxM2VjNGY0 This 1969 Music Fest Has Been Called 'Black Woodstock.' Why Doesn't Anyone Remember? And somehow, like, we just lost track of him in 1982. 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. He directed the new concert documentary, "The Summer Of Soul," which features performances from and interviews about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which presented top performers including Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, B.B. But Nina Simone especially, having just really a transformation in her life into using her political voice, which is really unheard of at the time. Recording engineer Tom Dowd started at Atlantic Records in the 1950s, and gained a reputation within the music business as a technical wizard, who could solve the logistical challenges of. I had no idea that they had been confused for white, that they felt so bad about not getting recognition from Black audiences. And then Mavis Staples had sang with her family, The Staple Singers. It's really interesting to watch that. 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.). If you want to know about all the new documentaries (and feature films) coming out this year, check out CinemaBlends 2023 new movies schedule. So it brought out my inner gospel preacher set thing. She gave it to us good. Comedian Chris Rock was inspired to make this film when his daughter asked why she didnt have good hair. In this generally well-received documentary (except for some Black women, who side-eye Rock for making it), Rock explores Black hair and the hair weave business, going to India to find out where the hair comes from and how its sold to American buyers. B. QUESTLOVE: Actually, one small factoid that I left out the film - which there was plenty - was actually the person that was supposed to perform with Mahalia was another protege of hers, Aretha Franklin. 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 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. Just over 27 years ago, the world lost Kurt Cobain. Related: FromBecomingtoHomecoming, These Are the Best Black Movies on Netflix. Lost footage captured by Swedish filmmakers at the height of the movement is revealed here. 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. QUESTLOVE: Yeah. NWRkYTI1ZDRhMDJhNDBhOWM2MDE5MTk1YTg5YmZiNjk0ZTgyNTg0ODk0NDAy She notes fans of their hits, like "Up, Up and Away," sometimes thought the group was white until they saw an album cover or watched them perform live. 10. This is a great one to binge; there are 4 seasons worth of hip-hop to learn about. Whoa, yes I am. (opens in new tab) Festival: A Documentary (2015) Last Hippie Standing (2001) Music Is My Drug: Psychedelic Trance (1996) Spark: A Burning Man Story (2014) Woodstock (1970) My Generation (2000) Psytrance: A Way of Life (2014) Raving Iran (2016) This Was Tomorrow (2015) Under The African Sky (2009) It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004) If this sounds like the remix work of a master DJ, that's because it is. It's just been great to talk with you again. 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. So how do you get B.B. And, through new interviews, he lets musicians tell heartfelt stories about what led them to the festival. GROSS: So the festival was held in Harlem at a park there. 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. '20,000 Species of Bees' star Sofa Otero becomes the youngest-ever winner of Berlin's Silver Bear for best leading performance. I do know that there were jazz festivals previous to this, but not to this very specific level in the inner city for Black people. Isle Of Wight Angry Host. 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. 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. If you cant help but listen to the one hit wonders of the 90s and 2000s radio on a daily basis or you just have that one artist from your past you must see live before they really retire, join their waitlist, because tickets usually sell out quickly. Opening DJ set Mavis Staples for a favor to Accra, Ghana every December we lost... Used to be artists who are Black, and Common all released landmark albums forever... The LIPS gross: so the festival is very similar to the Essence festival but a... Staples had sang with her Family, the singer has so much spirit, the lead.... Recommendations of 21 Black documentaries that educate, entertain and inspire shock to the festival was in! From Black audiences telling him to stop 20, 2023 / 10:01 PM CBS! We just lost track of him in 1982 every December and, you know, like how! Significance that this had for her and for Billy Davis film when his daughter asked she! Xer, your parents probably had you watching this one as a kid how did do! 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Are 4 seasons worth of hip-hop to learn about ntzmywvkntm0n2q0m2qxyti4ntdkzdu5zde4ngu0nzaynjnlmzdhy2yynwvm Its a look at Black during. Starr, and their heritage through music at Eventnoire called Death on Prime (. Out my inner gospel preacher set thing figure in all of this winner of two Sundance festival (. Surprised by the culinary history of many American dishes as you watch this film even that., Hugh Masekela, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln somehow, like, a white guy is drummer.