well, That's Show Biz, 06-19-2022 12 Juneteenth

Juneteenth

“Well, That’s Show Biz!”

6-19-2022

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• Welcome to “well, That’s Show Biz!”. I am your host, Jeremy Freedman and every week I present music from Broadway, Movies, and Entertainers along with some anecdotes, information, and Commentary centered around a theme. And today we are celebrating our newest federal holiday, Juneteenth.  Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. It originated in Galveston Texas and commemorates the anniversary date of June 19, 1865 when the word of institutional slavery reached the people of Texas.  Texas was the furthest state in the Confederacy and so it was the last state to learn about Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves in the Confederate States. Today, Juneteenth is observed by celebrating African-American culture, African-American Freedom, and African-American Arts and that’s what we are going to do today on “well, That’s Show Biz!”

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• We are going to open the first set with a song from the musical 1776. The freeing of slaves was debated during the writing of The Declaration of Independence. The representative from South Carolina, Edward Rutledge, exposes the hypocrisy of the northern states with what was known as The Triangle Trade in the song “Molasses to Rum”. It is a disturbing song but it is our history and it set the stage for the Civil War and the eventual freeing of enslaved African-Americans. We will follow that with “Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)” from the movie version of The Color Purple. Paul Robeson was an accomplished singer, actor, athlete and activist beginning in the early part of the 20th century. Here we are going to hear him sing “Ol’ Man River” from Show Boat in this 1928 recording.  And for our final number in this set, in 1976 there was a Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls with an all black cast. Here is the opening number “Fugue for Tinhorns”. But first, “Molasses to Rum” from 1776.

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• You just heard “Molasses to Rum” from the musical 1776, “Miss Celie’s Blues” from The Color Purple, Paul Robeson singing “Ol’ Man River” from Show Boat, and lastly “Fugue for Tinhorns” from the all-black 1976 revival of Guys and Dolls.

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• <PSA>

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• It’s Juneteenth here at “well, That’s Show Biz!” and we are celebrating with music dealing with African-American heritage and culture. Ben Vereen received the 1973 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as The Leading Player in Pippin. Here, he’s singing about “Simple Joys” from Pippin. George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess is considered to be America’s first opera.  It tells the story of Porgy, a disabled black street begger living in the slums of Charleston. He attempts to rescue Bess from her violent lover and from her drug dealer. Here is one of Porgy’s signature songs, “I Got Plenty O’ Nottin’”. In 1921, Shuffle Along became the first successful all-Black Broadway show and is credited with inspiring the Harlem Renaissance of the ‘20s and ‘30s. The music was written by Eubie Blake who also played piano during the show. Here is the most popular song from the show, “I’m Just Wild About Harry”, with Eubie Blake on piano from the 1952 revival. And finally in this set, we are going to hear Jennifer Hudson sing “I Am Changing” from the movie version of Dreamgirls which was inspired by the history of Motown and of The Supremes. Here’s Ben Vereen with “Simple Joys”.

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• You just heard Ben Vereen singing “Simple Joys” from Pippin, “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’” from Porgy and Bess, and “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls on this Juneteenth edition of “well, That’s Show Biz!”.

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• You are listening to “well, That’s Show Biz!’ on WRUU 107.5 FM and we are celebrating Juneteenth today. In our next set, we are going to hear Nell Carter and the cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’ singing the Fats Waller song “The Joint Is Jumpin’”. Leslie Odom Jr. made his acting debut on Broadway in 1998 but became celebrated for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical Hamilton. Here is is singing the song “Go Crazy” from is album called Mr. The Musical, Hallelujah, Baby!, tells the story of the African American struggle for equality during the first half of the 20th century winning the Tony Award for Best Musical and making Leslie Uggams a star. Here is Leslie Uggams and the cast of Hallelujah, Baby! with the finale, “Now’s the Time”. The Wiz is a retelling of The Wizard of Oz with an African-American perspective. Here is The Cowardly Lion’s entrance song, “I’m a Mean Ole Lion”. And closing out this set, I got to see Marylin McCoo in concert several years ago and she was fantastic. She got her start in the 60’s with the pop group, The 5th Dimension. Here is Marylin McCoo and The 5th Dimension singing a live version of “Together Let’s Find Love”. But first, “The Joint Is Jumpin’” from Ain’t Misbehavin’.

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• <PSA>

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• You are listening to Juneteenth on “wll, That’s Show Biz!” and you just heard “The Joint Is Jumpin’” from Ain’t Misbehavin’, “Go Crazy” sung by Leslie Odom, Jr., “Now’s The Time” from Hallelujah, Baby!, “I’m a Mean Ole Lion” from The Wiz, and The 5th Dimension singing “Together Let’s Find Love”. If you would like to send me song or theme suggestions you can email me, Jeremy Freedman at wruushowbiz@gmail.com. And if you are enjoying the show, please write to the station at WRUU.org.

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• And now for our final set in this Juneteenth inspired show.  The musical Purlie is about a charismatic traveling preacher during the era when Jim Crow laws were in full effect. We will here Melba Moore sing “I Got Love” from Purlie. Next comes the always magnificent Audra McDonald singing “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess with the New York Philharmonic. I never liked Lena Horne as a performer until I saw her one woman Broadway show, The Lady and Her Music. She was stunning in every sense of the word. Here she is singing “If You Believe” from her show that was originally sung by her in the movie version of The Wiz. And finally, we will hear EGOT winner Whoopie Goldberg and the sisters singing the finale from the movie Sister Act, “I Will Follow Him”. But  first up, Melba Moore with “I Got Love” from the musical Purlie.

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• Well, that’s it for this Juneteenth edition of “well, That’s Show Biz!” Please email me at wruushowbiz@gmail.com and send me song and theme choices. And contact the station at WRUU.org if you like the show. And join me next week to celebrate Pride.