In 1969, right about the time Woodstock was happening, the Harlem Cultural Festival took place. Star acts from the world of Soul came to Harlem to perform in front of 300,000 residents in Marcus Garvey Park. Stevie Wonder, the Gospel Redeemers, B.B. King, The Fifth Dimension, Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Chambers Brothers, Nina Simone, the Staple Singers, Mongo Santamaria, David Ruffin, Herbie Mann, The Isley Brothers, Ray Barretto, Max Roach, Mahalia Jackson, the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and Hugh Masekela filled the park with wonderful music.
Questlove and editor Joshua L. Pearson edited down the 40+ hours of videotape–that languished for 50 years–into the best documentary of 2021. How this extraordinary event could go unrecognized for decades is mind-boggling. Finally, it is available and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended! GRADE: A
Great movie. Could have done without the Fifth Dimension. Always hated them. Also never cared much for jazz flute playing (Herbie Mann).
Steve, I remember The Fifth Dimension being criticized at the time for sounding “too white.”
I thought they were just too bland. Up, Up and Away, My Beautiful Balloon? Ugh.
Steve, The Fifth Dimension focused on making the Easy Listening charts. They made a lot of money at the time.
I like both Herbie Mann and The Fifth Dimension. Maybe liking the latter has to do with where / who I was at the time.
Rick, I think the groups who performed in 1969 in the Harlem Cultural Festival represented the state of music for that time.
I like so many of these artists, so I’ll definitely be looking for this! You’re right—I’ve never heard of this event and, considering the star power represented, that is mind-boggling.
Deb, like you I was baffled why an event of this size and stature was completely forgotten. The videotapes, neglected for 50 years, needed Questlove to rescue them.
Hey Deb, I live here and I have no memory of it either! I mean, I remember Woodstock. We were home that summer other than visiting my (then) future in-laws upstate some weekends, but nope. Do not remember this happening at all. No Hulu, but will be looking out for another way to see it. We saw B. B. King first at the Fillmore East around 1969. Last saw him when he was about 85 about 10 years ago (in a show with Rev. Al Green). He said he had to sit down to play at that point, but he still had it. Would love to see Sly & the Family Stone and Ray Barretto and The Chambers Brothers in particular.
Jeff, Mayor John Lindsey shows up and gets cheered by the audience. In SUMMER OF SOUL Lindsey’s referred to as a “liberal” Republican…an extinct species now.
This certainly looks good and with its being on HULU I could easily have missed it without all the attention it’s gotten lately. I watch far less stuff on HULU than on my other three streamers, and I’ve been thinking of dropping it. You can only watch so much stuff, and the addition of HBO Max to Netflix and Amazon has the cup overflowing.
Michael, I feel the same way: so much to watch, so little time! HULU is behind Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and AMAZON PRIME Video, but still offers some Good Stuff.
I don’t need to see it, but a CD of it would be nice.
Rick, so far, no CD. The set list is available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2XBSq1ulsmdPCAXSKrsly8
Thanks, George. I don’t have Spotify, but looking at the song list it’s clear this was as much a jazz event as a soul event. Pretty interesting. Keep in mind, we live in a time where “if it’s Black, it’s back”.
Rick, as Deb pointed out, it is mind-blowing that an event like this was completely forgotten for 50 years. I’m glad the SUMMER OF SOUL is available on HULU.
I’ve always liked the Fifth Dimension, especially Wedding Bell Blues and One Less Bell to Answer! Marilyn McCoo was fantastic!
Bob, I must confess I had a crush on Marilyn McCoo back in 1969!
Never heard about this of course but remember some of the artists from American Forces Network. We really liked soul music.
Strange coincidence (I may have written about this):
In a “disco” in a village near the University city of Tübingen we saw a mixed German/American group called “Soul Caravan in the summer of 1969. The village boys and girls obviously were not the right audience for them so after the concert I offered my services to arrange a performance at the University restaurant (Mensa) which was rented out cheaply. It was sold out and everybody was happy though I lost connection with them – had to prepare for my maths exam.
They changed their name later to Xhol Caravan when their music became more psychedelic than soul and then to Xhol.
Those were the days!
Wolf, yes, those were the days!