Événement

Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975

CD Forum is excited to present Pat Thomas and his highly anticipated book Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975.

In 2004, Pat began working on a research project centered around the Black Panther Party with a focus on the protest recordings that the Black Power movement inspired during the 1960s and 1970s this led to establishing strong working relationships with two key leaders of the Black Panther Party David Hilliard (Chief of Staff) and Party chairman Elaine Brown (including releasing her landmark 1969 album "Seize The Time" on CD). As well as meetings with Bobby Seale, Ericka Huggins, and other Panthers. Over a period of 5 years, Pat uncovered dozens of rare/out of print/forgotten Black Power recordings in all areas of jazz, soul, poetry, speeches, interviews, and rock/pop music eventually amassing what might be considered the largest collection of its kind.

Listen, Whitey! chronicles the forgotten history of Motown Records. From 1970 to 1973, Motown's Black Power subsidiary label, Black Forum, released politically charged albums by Stokely Carmichael, Amiri Baraka, Langston Hughes, Bill Cosby & Ossie Davis, and many others.

Other sections focus on Black Consciousness poetry (from the likes of Jayne Cortez, wife of Ornette Coleman), inspired religious recordings that infused god and Black Nationalism, obscure regional and privately pressed Black Power 7-inch soul singles from across America.

Pat Thomas will be presented by R&B singer Bernadette Bascom. Bascom, of Wheedle's Groove, was the first artist signed to Stevie Wonder's label Black Bull.

The book is published by Seattle's own Fantagraphics Books and accompanied by a 'soundtrack' available from Light in the Attic.

The event is co-presented with Elliott Bay Book Company and co-sponsored by Hollow Earth Radio's Central Sounds.

March 1st, 7pm, at Washington Hall (153 14th Ave, Seattle)