海角破解版

On November 7 ^th, Clevelanders will choose the next mayor of their city.  The fact that both candidates are black isn鈥檛 surprising.  It was a different story fifty years ago when Carl Stokes became the first African American to be elected mayor of a major American city.  That achievement was celebrated in a little-known musical album that was recently re-discovered.

In was created in 1970 in a New York recording studio.  Carl Stokes, in his second term as mayor, read a selection of gospel lyrics and some poetry by writers Langston Hughes and Gil Scott-Heron. These readings were accompanied by a collection of classical and jazz musicians, and focused on themes of inequality and self-determination, like Hughes鈥� 鈥淚 Too.鈥�

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I鈥檒l be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody鈥檒l dare

Say to me,

鈥淓at in the kitchen,鈥�

Then.

Besides,

They鈥檒l see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed鈥�

I, too, am America.

_{漏 1994 by The Estate of Langston Hughes.}

Back then, behind the control room glass was famed New York jazz producer Bob Thiele.  Next to him was noted composer and arranger Oliver Nelson.  They鈥檇 collaborated on a series of recordings like this. Each one featured prominent American cultural voices commenting, sometimes metaphorically, on current issues over a musical soundtrack.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Tell him I'm gone
Tell him I'm gone

If he asks you was I runnin'
If he asks you was I runnin'
If he asks you was I runnin'
Tell him I was flyin'
Tell him I was flyin'

If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
Tell him I was cryin'
Tell him I was cryin'

They want to feed me cornbread and molasses
They want to feed me cornbread and molasses
They want to feed me cornbread and molasses
But I got my pride
Well, I got my pride

_{漏 Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, T.R.O. Inc.}

Music historian Loren Schoenberg says the albums were released on Thiele鈥檚 personal label, Flying Dutchman, and they definitely weren鈥檛 heading to the top of the pop charts.

鈥淚n the late 1960s, people were branching off into independent labels based on philosophies and ideals,鈥� Schoenberg says.  鈥淎t that time, you had people who were making enough money from the commercial stuff, that felt that they could go out and record things that they loved.  There may not have been a big payday at the end.鈥�

The Stokes recording was released under the title The Mayor and the People.  On one side, Nelson composed for the occasion.  Among the musicians accompanying Stokes were such jazz luminaries as flutist Hubert Laws, saxophonist Phil Woods, and drummer Grady Tate.  The other side consisted of an from an invited audience arranged by Thiele.

In one exchange, Stokes called for young radicals to work within the democratic system:

 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 beat the system by violence.  You鈥檙e talking about a country that鈥檚 got the Army, the Navy, the CIA.  Do you know what would happen if they turned, as they can turn, on an identifiable minority group in this country? They鈥檇 wipe you out tomorrow morning.  And, as horrendous as it would be to me and you, it would not be inconsistent with history鈥�.

41-year-old Johnny Parker wasn鈥檛 even born when Carl Stokes was elected mayor, but Parker says he鈥檚 grown-up with the Stokes legacy.

鈥淐arl Stokes has always been present in our family as a kind of inspirational figure, that kind of dogged toughness of 鈥榣et鈥檚 go after it, let鈥檚 get it, let鈥檚 be about the business of effecting change.鈥欌��

Parker was co-director of a recent concert featuring music from the Stokes recording, performed by a combination of gospel and jazz performers assembled by Cuyahoga Community College.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the Stokes Legacy Jazz Orchestra,鈥� says Parker鈥檚 concert collaborator, Dominick Farinacci.  鈥淭hat concept of bringing music and current events together is very important right now for our culture.  The country is so divided in many ways, on many fronts.  Arts and music is always a pathway to empathy.  It鈥檚 very powerful.鈥� 

Oliver Nelson, Jr. attended the performance and was happy to hear his father鈥檚 music performed live for the first time. He noted that the poetry readings from 40 years ago, sounded very relevant today.

鈥淭he names have changed,鈥� said Nelson. 鈥淭he Black Panther Party is no longer around --- but Black Lives Matter is around and we鈥檙e still fighting the same battles.鈥� 

Johnny Parker says those long-fought battles and the continuing conversations about the best way to address police-community relations might be discouraging to some.  He finds them inspiring.  Just like reviving a forgotten recording that still has a powerful message.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e talking about it, you have to think that there鈥檚 some hope,鈥� he says.