Black Music in America: From Then till Now: Museum Object and Cultural History
Black Music in America: From Then till Now: Date: 1971. Directed by: Hugh A. Robertson, American, 1932 - 1988. Subject of: Cannonball Adderley, American, 1928 - 1975.
The object in the museum catalogue
A documentary film with the title Black Music in America: From Then till Now. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.
The documentary features clips of some of the most recognized Black artists of all-time. The film is bookended by clips of Nina Simone performing her song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black.” From here the film tracks the history of Black music to Africa and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, pointing to the influence of traditional African drumming and also indicating that slave masters encouraged singing and dancing within the confines of the middle passage slave ships. Additionally, the documentary features performance clips from Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Sly and the Family Stone, and other musicians.
Materials, dates and provenance
- Date: 1971
- Directed by: Hugh A. Robertson, American, 1932 - 1988
- Subject of: Cannonball Adderley, American, 1928 - 1975
- Subject of: Louis Armstrong, American, 1901 - 1971
- Subject of: Josephine Baker, American, 1906 - 1975
- Subject of: Count Basie, American, 1904 - 1984
- Subject of: Northern Calloway, American, 1948 - 1990
- Subject of: Irene Cara, American, born 1959
- Subject of: Roy Eldridge, American, 1911 - 1989
- Type: sound films
- Type: color films (visual works)
- Type: short subjects
- Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
- Medium: polyester film
- Dimensions: Duration: 25 Minutes
- Dimensions: Length (Film): 900 Feet
- Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Topic: African American
- Topic: Africa
- Topic: African diaspora
- Topic: Documentary films
- Topic: Film
- Topic: Music
- Topic: Musicians
- Topic: Trans-Atlantic slave trade
- Object number: 2017.55.68.1a
- Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
- Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
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