Re: [JPL] Shades of Felicano & Hendrix in the 60s. René Marie stirs it up

[Dr. Jazz]

Was she wearing a flag lapel pin??


Arturo Gomez wrote:
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>
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> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> I recall the uproar caused by José Feliciano in 1968 who when singing the
> Star Spangled Banner for the 1968 baseball all-star game that was nationally
> televised by NBC "dared" to scat at the end of the interpretation. It light
> up the phones at NBC affiliates across the nation and Feliciano even
> received death threats. A year later Jimi Hendrix played a rock version of
> the anthem at Woodstock that also was severely criticized. Now innovative
> versions of the anthem are performed as standard procedure.
>
> You might hear about this latest bruhaha on the news. The news agencies are
> sensationalizing and twisting the facts. René Marie sang the lyrics of "Lift
> Every Voice and Sing" to the music of the "Star Spangled Banner". Anyone who
> has seen Ms. Marie perform on stage have probably heard her sing her unique
> version of "Dixie" or "Jena Six", she's a throwback to the 1960s and 70s
> when artists were not afraid to speak their minds e.g Nina Simone, Gil
> Scott-Heron and others. I included the URL link to the actual performance at
> the informal gathering at the end.  Arturo
>
>
> Mayor surprised by Black National Anthem
>
> There was one major surprise at Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City
> address today.
>
> Jazz singer Rene Marie, who was introduced to sing the "National Anthem,"
> sang what is known as the "Black National Anthem" instead, evoking angry
> reactions among some of the estimated 700 people who attended the event.
>
> "There is no substitute for the National Anthem. Period," said Councilman
> Charlie Brown.
>
> "This is the State of the City address. It's not a NAACP convention," he
> said, referring to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
> People.
>
> Hickenlooper and his staff said they expected Marie to sing the "Star
> Spangled Banner" and that they were surprised when she sang something
> different.
>
> Hickenlooper said he spoke to Marie after the ceremony and that she
> apologized profusely.
>
> The mayor said Marie told him that she meant no disrespect.
>
> "She blended the two songs together," Hickenlooper said. "She was trying to
> make an artistic expression of her love for the country. She did not intend
> to make a political statement or anything."
>
> Marie sang the first verse of James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Ev'ry Voice and
> Sing," also known as "The Black National Anthem," but adapted those lyrics
> to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner.
>
> Council President Michael Hancock, who introduced Marie at the event, said
> he had no idea that Marie was going to sing anything but the National
> Anthem.
>
> "I just read off the script, which was to introduce her to do the National
> Anthem, so I expected the National Anthem," he said.
>
> Hancock, who met Marie for the first time today, said Marie should have
> cleared her song choice with the mayor and his administration. It was
> "inappropriate" that she didn't, he said.
>
> "She certainly should have given the mayor and the administration the
> opportunity to decide if they wanted her to sing the song that she sang," he
> said.
>
> Hancock said he's been getting hate-filled e-mails over the song.
>
> "I'm getting — as if I made the decision to do this — I'm receiving a lot of
> hate mail," he said. "I've received quite a few e-mails that are quite
> nasty."
>
>
> http://denver.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=502
>
> I would be happy to forward any e-mails to René on your behalf if you wish,
> hopefully of a positive nature.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
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>   


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