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"Soul Power" - A Newly Discovered "Shelved" Documentary Courtesy of Tambay:
Watching this, I instantly thought about Wattstax, which occurred 2 years earlier; 100,000 brothers and sisters turning on to being black…telling it like it is!
The Soul Power story goes… In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary When We Were Kings. Soul Power is a verité documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ‘74”), and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century. It was crafted from extensive “outtakes” that remained after making When We Were Kings, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The “outtakes” have remained vaulted for the past 34 years, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographer Albert Maysles, Soul Power finally provides today’s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory. The doc is going to released in theatres, thanks to Sony Pictures, and is scheduled for a July 10th release, in the thick of summer movie mania. It should be a nice counter to all the shoot-outs, car explosions, malleable robots, and under-dressed beach bodies  )Here’s its trailer: | |
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Harlepolis said: Courtesy of Tambay:
Watching this, I instantly thought about Wattstax, which occurred 2 years earlier; 100,000 brothers and sisters turning on to being black…telling it like it is!
The Soul Power story goes… In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary When We Were Kings. Soul Power is a verité documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ‘74”), and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century. It was crafted from extensive “outtakes” that remained after making When We Were Kings, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The “outtakes” have remained vaulted for the past 34 years, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographer Albert Maysles, Soul Power finally provides today’s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory. The doc is going to released in theatres, thanks to Sony Pictures, and is scheduled for a July 10th release, in the thick of summer movie mania. It should be a nice counter to all the shoot-outs, car explosions, malleable robots, and under-dressed beach bodies )Here’s its trailer: ----- Maybe the 1969 Harlem Music Fest will finally be put out as well see below. I have the Sly Stone footage and have always been curious about the rest of the show. ----- Sly Stone at The Harlem Festival 1969 http://loadedtothegills.b...-1969.html [Edited 5/2/09 16:42pm] http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related [Edited 5/2/09 17:07pm] | |
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I saw this on the Entertainment Weekly magazine. Should be a great docu. Thanks, Harley!  | |
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