Black Light
Stage Left Home
Back to Playlists |
Previous Show— That's Fantastic! (February 4, 2004) | Next Show— You're Getting to be a Hobbit with Me (March 3, 2004)
|
KDHX FM 88.1
February 18, 2004
In celebration of Black History Month, a quick historical overview of some great black performers from the vaudeville and Broadway stages.
PLAYLIST
| Selection |
Source |
Performer(s) |
Comments |
| Brainduster Memory School |
Give Us a Break! (1978) |
Proctor and Bergman |
Arnold Brainduster guarantees he'll improve your memory in the
time it takes your check to clear. Give Us a Break! was an LP of short
comedy "breaks" ideal for DJs looking for quick comedy bits to drop
into their shows. Proctor and Bergman are half of The
Firesign Theatre. |
| I’m Sorry I Ain’t Got It |
Ziegfeld
Follies of 1919 (1977) |
Bert Williams |
Recorded 11/24/1919. Although largely forgotten today, Williams
was a major star of the Follies but, in accordance with the virulent racism of
the time, had to perform his act in "black face". |
| Baltimore Buzz |
American Musical Theatre, V. 1 |
Noble Sissle |
Recorded 3/18/1921, this is from Shuffle Along, which
Sissle wrote with his frequent collaborator, Eubie Blake. |
| Doin the New Low Down |
Follies, Scandals and Other Diversions (1977) |
Bill
"Bojangles" Robinson, Don Redman Orchestra |
Recorded 12/29/1932, this is originally from the revue Blackbirds
of 1928, which, as you might guess from the title, featured black performers. |
| Ol’ Man River |
American Musical Theatre, V. 1 |
Paul
Robeson |
Recorded 7/21/1932. Robeson was supposed to be the original Joe
in Show Boat, but didn’t actually play the role until the 1932 revival. |
| Takin’ a Chance on Love |
American Musical Theatre, V. 2 |
Ethel Waters |
Recorded 11/7/1940. This is from the 1940 Vernon Duke/John Latouche
musical Cabin in the Sky. |
| Ain’ It De Truth? |
Jamaica (OC 1957) |
Lena
Horne |
With music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. (“Yip”) Harburg,
this calypso-flavored show ran a respectable 558 performances. Horne’s co-stay
was Ricardo Montalban. |
| Night Song |
Golden Boy (OC 1964) |
Sammy Davis, Jr. |
This show, based on a Clifford Odets 1937 play about a fighter who aspires
to better things, was an auspicious Broadway dramatic debut for Davis, who was
already an immensely popular entertainer. |
| Simple Joys |
Pippin (OC 1972) |
Ben Vereen |
The Role of the Leading Player – a kind of Mephistophelean
narrator in this commedia dell’arte take on the life of Charlemagne’s
less-than-great son Pippin – was a major break for Vereen, following his
success the previous year as Judas in Jesus Christ, Superstar. Many other
starring roles followed. It ran for 1,944 performances. |
Acronyms and other mysteries defined:
OC: Unless otherwise indicated,
the Original Cast recording of a Broadway show,
along with the date.
OS: Unless otherwise indicated, the Original
Soundtrack recording of a film,
TV show, etc.
Stage Left Home
Back to Playlists |
Previous Show— That's Fantastic! (February 4, 2004) | Next Show— You're Getting to be a Hobbit with Me (March 3, 2004)
|
KDHX FM 88.1
|