The ‘Show That Vinyl’ Radio Show will feature Great Performer Albums during Black History Month 2024
Show That Vinyl – 95.5 FM Phoenix Media’s newest Radio Show – will feature ‘GREAT PERFORMERS’ during Black History Month 2024.
Listen in from 6 – 7 pm on Tuesday nights to discover who will be featured. All Utica Phoenix Radio Shows can be heard through a Live Stream on https://www.955TheHeat.com
On February 7, 1964 – 60 years ago, ‘The Beatles’ arrived in America. Massive crowds packed JFK airport to greet them. The Superstar band’s performances and recordings left an indelible mark on the world.
On February 6, 2024. Show That Vinyl; featured the English Rock Band “The Beatles”.
The Question – Why would you choose ‘them’ to honor during Black History Month? The Answer – They Were “Allies” to black audiences and black performers. And, the origins of their music are in ‘Black Music’.
Shall I elaborate… The Beatles were “the most influential band of all time.” They “revolutionized the music industry”. They were pioneers in recording. ‘Beatle Mania’ swept through England and the US during the early 1960’s. The Beatles were ‘The most successful music act of all time’ – according to the US Billboard. From 1960 – 1964 four young men from Liverpool – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison & Ringo Star – gave over 1,400 Concert appearances. For the rest of the decade, they made studio recordings of their songs.
If you care to know more, you can read over 65 pages about The Beatles on Wikipedia.
So, what has that got to do with Black History Month? Well, being that popular, that rich and that influential a band meant that The Beatles could:
1. Refuse to play before racially segregated audiences. During their 1964 US Tour, the Beatles refused to perform at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida unless it was integrated. They drew up contracts for all of their concerts with that stipulation. This was a major advance against Southern State ‘Jim Crow racism’; and a great recognition and service to black audience members, who would have otherwise received inferior accommodations compared to the white race members of the audience.
2. The Beatle’s Song ‘Black Bird’ referred to racial segregation and oppression of black people in the US and in England. The Beatles used their songs as anthems to educate on a number of socially progressive issues.
3. John Lennon wrote the song ‘Woman is the ‘Nigger’ of the World [ She’s the slave of the Slave – oh yes she is… ]. This song was in support of a burgeoning feminist movement, and recognized the oppression of women in similar fashion as the practice of oppressing black people has been.
4. Elvis Presley was a “foundational music influence on the band”. The Beatles finally got to meet Elvis while on tour. If you have ever heard Elvis Presley’s music; you would like think that he had ‘Black’ influencers. And that is because he had. Black Culture is infused in American culture. Elvis Presley was known for visiting ‘Black Churches’ throughout the American South. Elvis Presley listened to and learned Negro Spirituals and Gospel Music – and used these in the music that he wrote and performed. So, yes indeed, the Beatles were ‘influenced’ by the rhythms of Black American music – from the start.
5. The Beatles were ‘Allies’ to Black Music Performers; the most famous ones being Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Collaborations with Beatle band member Paul McCartney for songs such as ( ‘We are the World’, and ‘Ebony and Ivory’ ] allowed these black performers to be exposed to a wider audience. Michael Jackson, in particular, learned his most important lesson about the music business from Paul McCartney. The young star of the family group “The Jackson Five” learned about copyright protection of intellectual property as an outcome of his friendship with Paul McCartney. And that knowledge allowed the Jackson 5 family group to break away from being financially exploited, and to finally profit from their own songs. Michael Jackson, as an individual artist, later amassed a financial fortune as a consequence of owning his copyrights.
6. Billy Preston, a black soul singer and drummer, worked on the song ‘Get Back’ with The Beatles. He hung out with them all to such an extent that he was considered the 5th Beatle. The camaraderie that the Beatles extended and were extended by Black performers and audiences made an obvious impact on the opportunities and perception of black performers.
The Beatles association’s with many black performers created breakthroughs; which are still evident to this day. That is why ‘The Beatles – Again’ Album [Apple Label] was played during Black History Month.
The songs played were:
Side 1
1. Can’t Buy Me Love, 2. I Should Have Known Better, 3. Paperback Writer
4. Rain, 5. Lady Madonna, 6. Revolution
Side 2
1. Hey Jude, 2. Old Brown Shoe, 3. Don’t Let Me Down, 4. Ballad of John & Yoko
The ‘Show That Vinyl ‘ Radio Show is on 95.5 FM from 6 -7 pm on Tuesday nights.
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