Sunday, April 03, 2022

Summer Of Soul--Review


 The Summer of Soul is beautiful presentation of restored film of the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969.  The film featured such iconic performers as The 5th Dimension, Mahalia Jackson, The Staple Singers, and Sly And The Family Stone as well as many other well known African American artists.  The festival covered R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock, and Gospel.

This event took place in the same summer of Woodstock (1969) and yet, while Woodstock became emblematic of the era, this gathering is relatively unknown.  The event was filmed, but no one, it seems, wanted to release it to the public at the time.  Perhaps it may have been because there seemed, at least  from the film, no sign of violence, drug ODs or naked people running around.  

We watched the film on Disney Plus, after a strong recommendation by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr and found it incredible with all the great acts. Many who are still performing today. 

The film won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature and a Grammy for Best Music Film. 


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