Rhythm and Blues: Tell It Like It Is
odd: label: Introduction
content: The 2011 Rhythm and Blues program was an exploration of the rich historical, cultural, and musical matrix of R&B. Through music and dance performances, workshops, and narrative discussions, the program considered R&B as a collaborative art form shaped by composers, performers, producers, and communities of listeners. Most importantly, it highlighted how music provides a dynamic lens to explore the relationship of African American history and experiences to American popular culture.

The history of R&B and the breadth of what it encompasses - socially, commercially, and artistically - suggests that it is not monolithic. It tells a complex story of many strands and experiences. A distinctly African American music drawing from the deep tributaries of African American expressive culture, it is an amalgam of jump blues, big band swing, gospel, boogie, and blues that was initially developed during a thirty-year period that bridges the era of legally sanctioned racial segregation, international conflicts, and the struggle for civil rights. Its formal qualities, stylistic range, marketing and consumption trends, and worldwide currency thus reflect not only the changing social and political landscapes of American race relations, but also urban life, culture, and popular entertainment in mainstream America.

This music that speaks about a history of marginalization and exclusion also tells a story about resilience and resistance. The 2011 Festival program underlined these latter qualities. It celebrated pioneers and iconoclasts, soloists and studio musicians, and relationships and collaborations through which a younger generation was taking ownership of the music. This was perhaps most dynamically revealed in the participation of the Stax Music Academy, a group of Memphis high school musicians who are learning leadership and teamwork skills through music that (in their own words) "embodies the spirit of harmony, respect and cooperation that defined Memphis' legendary Stax Records." These students not only learn the historic importance of the music, but also experience R&B through collaboration and practice as a living art form - an art form that Festival visitors in Washington could also experience vividly and directly on the National Mall.

Mark Puryear was Curator and Arlene Reiniger was Program Coordinator. Portia Maultsby, Bob Santelli, and Michael White constituted the Curatorial Advisory Committee. For the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Project Staff included: Lonnie G. Bunch, Director; Kinshasha Holman Conwill, Deputy Director; Timothy Anne Burnside, Research Assistant; Dorey Butter, Project Manager; Deirdre Cross, Public Programs Coordinator; Delphia York Duckens, Associate Director for External Affairs; Rex Ellis, Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs; Cheryl Johnson, Government Relations Officer; LaFleur Paysour, Media Relations and Public Affairs; Dwandalyn Reece, Curator of Music and Performing Arts; and Kevin Strait, Project Historian.

The program was produced in partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
label: Presenters
content: Lawrence Bradford, Timothy Anne Burnside, Rex Ellis, Tuliza Fleming, John Franklin, Charles Hughes, Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, Kip Lornell, Barry Lee Pearson, Jeff Place, Dwandalyn Reece, Tulani Salahu-Din, Randy Short, Kevin Strait
label: Participants
content: WILLIAM BELL

William Bell, 1939-, singer, Atlanta, Georgia

Performing with the Stax Music Academy

THE DIXIE CUPS®

Barbara A. Hawkins, 1942-, vocals, Tampa, Florida

Rosa L. Hawkins, 1945-, vocals, Tampa, Florida

Athelgra Neville, 1944-, vocals, New Orleans, Louisiana

Marc Adams, 1952-, keyboards, vocals, New Orleans, Louisiana

Anthony Brown, 1960-, guitar, New Orleans, Louisiana

Gerald French, 1970-, drums, vocals, New Orleans, Louisiana

James Markway, 1952-, bass, Covington, Louisiana

Joseph Saulsbury, 1951-, saxophone, New Orleans, Louisiana

NAT DOVE

Nat Dove, 1939-, keyboards, vocals, Bakersfield, California

David Cole, 1957-, guitar, Berwyn Heights, Maryland

Emory Diggs, 1958-, bass, Oxon Hill, Maryland

DeAndrey Howard, 1954-, drums, Washington, D.C.

THE FUNK BROTHERS

Bob Babbitt, bass, Nashville, Tennessee

Donna Curtin, 1959-, vocals, Detroit, Michigan

Rob Jones, 1952-, keyboards, Detroit, Michigan

Ray Monette, 1946-, guitar, Livonia, Michigan

Delbert Nelson, 1954-, vocals, Farmington, Michigan

Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice, 1944-, drums, Detroit, Michigan

Eddie Willis, Jr., 1936-, guitar, Gore Springs, Mississippi

Treaty Womack, 1953-, percussion, Detroit, Michigan

George McGregor, 1940-, drums, Detroit, Michigan

Wondel E. Brown, 1950-, trombone, Prince Frederick, Maryland

Clarence Knight, Jr., 1936-, tenor saxophone, Bowie, Maryland

Keith A. Mathis, 1958-, horn section coordinator, trumpet, flugelhorn, Washington, D.C.

GLOBE POSTER PRINTING

Bob Cicero, 1947-, owner, Pasadena, Maryland

THE JEWELS

Sandra Bears, 1943-, vocals, Washington, D.C.

Marjorie Clarke, 1945-, vocals, Washington, D.C.

Grace Ruffin, 1944-, vocals, District Heights, Maryland

Ronald Campbell, 1951-, bass, Washington, D.C.

Ronald Ford, 1951-, drums, Washington, D.C.

Joe Phillips, 1951-, guitar, Suitland, Maryland

Ron Reace, 1956-, keyboards, Hyattsville, Maryland

DR. MABLE JOHN

Mable John, 1930-, musician, Los Angeles California

Performing with the Stax Music Academy Accompanists  -- Performing with the Stax Music Academy AccompanistsMildred Spikes, 1942-, vocals, East Orange, New JerseyNorma Jenkins Williams, 1948-, vocals, Gaithersburg, Maryland

FERNANDO JONES

Fernando Jones, 1964-, guitar, Chicago, Illinois

Roy Boyd, 1955-, drums, vocals, Chicago, Illinois

Chip Ratliff, 1965-, bass, vocals, Morton Grove, Illinois

SHIRLEY JONES OF THE JONES GIRLS

Shirley Jones, 1953-, vocals, McDonough, Georgia

Farnetta L. Baker, 1967-, vocals, Bryans Road, Maryland

Anissa Hargrove, 1969-, vocals, Waldorf, Maryland

Lorree K. Slye, 1962-, vocals, Washington, D.C.

Keith D. Busey, 1960-, bass, Silver Spring, Maryland

Charles Jerome Deas, 1964-, percussion, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Jeno Marcus Meyer, 1972-, keyboards, Oxon Hill, Maryland

Derrick Tobias Northan, guitar, Baltimore, Maryland

Arthur Scribner, Jr., 1955-, keyboards, Baltimore, Maryland

Kevin "Bam-Bam" Sykes, 1968-, drums, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Michael "Airplay" Austin, 1958-, manager, Atlanta, Georgia

HAROLD MELVIN'S BLUENOTES

Latrice Barnwell, bass

Anthony Brooks, vocals

Angela Caldwell

John Gillespie, vocals

Calvin Harrisson, guitar

Ovelia Melvin

Trudy Melvin, manager

John Morris, vocals

Harvey Perry, keyboards

George Prettyman, sound technician

John Thompson, drums

Rufus Thorne, Jr., vocals

THE MONITORS

Bill Myers, 1932-, keyboards, Wilson, North Carolina

Willie Dupree, 1950-, saxophone, Wilson, North Carolina

Gerald Hunter, 1945-, guitar, vocals, Wilson, North Carolina

Mollie Hunter, 1958-, vocals, Wilson, North Carolina

Dick Knight, 1943-, trumpet, vocals, Kinston, North Carolina

Sam Lathan, 1929-, drums, vocals, Wilson, North Carolina

Jerome Morgan, 1968-, bass, Wilson, North Carolina

THE NATIONAL HAND DANCE ASSOCIATION

Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, 1953-, president, Fort Washington, Maryland  -- Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, 1953-, president, Fort Washington, MarylandLawrence Bradford, Willie-Mae Brown, Levet Brown, Jr., Earl Calloway, Jr., Melvin Copeland, Patricia Duncan-Clark, Kim Frazier, Nathan Giles, Maxine Grant, James Green, Leroy J. Green, Farnese Hicks, Alwanda Higgins, Dominic A. Johnson, Megan Johnson, William Johnson, Nadene Jones, Dyone Mitchell, Patricia Mitchell, Myra Morgan-Martin, Adrienne Poteat, Addie Robinson, Markus Lamont Smith, Greg Steele, Mary Thomas, Ronald Van Doorn, Melvin Walker, Darlene Wallace

SONNY TIL'S ORIOLES

Diz Russell, 1933-, vocals, Capitol Heights, Maryland

Ray Apollo Allen, 1941-, vocals, Fort Washington, Maryland

Clark Walker, 1948-, vocals, guitar, Largo, Maryland

David Warren, 1945-, vocals, Arlington, Virginia

Sam Paladino, 1941-, keyboards, La Plata, Maryland

Gary Smith, bass, Capitol Heights, Maryland

James Thomas, 1943-, drums, Hyattsville, Maryland

Millie Russell, 1938-, manager, Capitol Heights, Maryland

PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS, GAMBLE-HUFF MUSIC

Kenneth Gamble, founder

Leon Huff, founder

Charles Gamble

Kenneth Gamble

Grace Warner ("Amazing Grace Little")

RADIO DJs

Robert "Captain Fly" Frye, 1949-, WPFW, Washington, D.C.

Carroll Hynson, 1936-, WHUR, Washington, D.C.

Herb Kent, 1928-, WVAZ, Chicago, Illinois

Bob Porter, 1940-, WBGO, Newark, New Jersey

MISS MARTHA REEVES

Martha Reeves, 1941-, singer, Detroit, Michigan

Christopher Beck, 1982, drums, Jersey City, New Jersey

Isaac Daniel, guitar

Dupor Georges, trombone

Bryan Dundee Holt, 1956-, New York, New York

Richard Kessler, trumpet

Alonzo McKenzie, keyboards, Southfield, Michigan

Darrell Smith, 1962-, bass, Detroit, Michigan

Lorenzo Wheatley, baritone sax

Davey Yarborough, tenor sax

SMOOTH & EZ HAND DANCE INSTITUTE

Lawrence Bradford, 1944-, director, Washington, D.C.  -- Lawrence Bradford, 1944-, director, Washington, D.C.William Coleman, Milton English, Francina R. Ferguson, Victor Howard, Lisa Lawson, Gregory Meads, Jonathan V. Newton, Nilajah Nyasuma, Gregory L. Owens, Sr., Betty Parker, Kirby Parker, James Portis, Tia Quander, Renee Reed, Carolyn Rhone, Patricia Russo, Helen Victoria Swann, Angela Tindle, Cynthia Trueheart, Gerald Woodford, Gloria Woodfork, Alexis Wright-Portis

SOUL SURVIVORS

Michael DiMatrinis, 1956-, guitar, vocals, Sicklerville, New Jersey

Charles Ingui, vocals, Ridgely, Maryland

Richard Ingui, 1946-, vocals, Shamong, New Jersey

Kevin Irvine, 1954-, keyboard, vocals, New Hope, Pennsylvania

Jay MacLean, 1956-, drums, Williamstown, New Jersey

Frank Pagliante, 1956-, bass, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey

SOUL TRAIN

Kenard Gibbs, 1964-, CEO, Soul Train Holdings, Chappaqua, New York

Tony Cornelius, President/CEO, Akabueze Productions Inc.

Tyrone Proctor, 1953-, original Soul Train dancer, New York, New York

Nicholas "NickFRESH" Puzo, 1983-, DJ, founder, SoulTrainFans, Orange Park, Florida

Questlove, 1971-, DJ, producer, drummer for the Roots, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Urban Artistry, dancers  -- Urban Artistry, dancersTasha Barnes, 1980-, dancer, Arlington, VirginiaJunious "HOUSE" Brickhouse, 1974-, dancer, Bethesda, MarylandRashaad Pearson, 1983-, dancer, Rockville, MarylandToyin Sogunro, 1987-, dancer, New Carrollton, MarylandRyan Webb, 1986-, dancer, Springfield, VirginiaBaronhawk Williams, 1988-, dancer, Beltsville, Maryland

STAX MUSIC ACADEMY

Paul B. McKinney, 1969-, music director, Memphis, Tennessee

Justin Merrick, 1987-, vocal instructor, Memphis, Tennessee

Leona Johnson, 1961-, program assistant, Memphis, Tennessee

Tasmine Ballentine, vocals

Stephanie Brownlee, 1995-, keyboards, Memphis, Tennessee

Brandon Chornes, 1994-, drums, vocals, Memphis, Tennessee

Preston Edward Clark, 1994-, bass, Memphis, Tennessee

Justin Hicks, 1995-, vocals, Cordova, Tennessee

Clifton A. Jackson, 1994-, trombone, Memphis, Tennessee

Tangela Mathis, 1994-, vocals, Memphis, Tennessee

Amber Robinson, 1992-, vocals, Memphis, Tennessee

Andrew Saino, 1993-, electric guitar, Collierville, Tennessee

Baye Slappy, 1993-, vocals, Memphis, Tennessee

Kelvin Walters, 1994-, alto saxophone, Memphis, Tennessee

Deanie Parker, 1945-, former administrator and composer for Stax Records, Memphis, Tennessee

THE SWALLOWS

William "Til" George, 1935-, vocals, Pikesville, Maryland

Leroy Miller, 1946-, vocals, Baltimore, Maryland

Eddie Rich, 1931-, vocals, Baltimore, Maryland

Clarence O. Robinson, 1956-, vocals, Baltimore, Maryland

Johnny Styl, 1952-, vocals, Randallstown, Maryland

Backing Band  -- Backing BandJohnnel Gray, 1948-, keyboards, Washington, D.C.Lenny Harris, 1955-, saxophone, White Plains, MarylandEddie Jones, 1953-, band leader, guitar, Washington, D.C.Antonio Robinson, 1961-, drums, Hyattsville, MarylandJerry Wilder, bass

SWAMP DOGG

Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams, 1942-, keyboards, vocals, Canoga Park, California

Billy Haynes, 1949-, bass, vocals, Bakersfield, California

Craig Kimbrough, 1956-, drums, Los Angeles, California

Vera Lee, 1921-, vocals, Las Vegas, Nevada

Lucky Lloyd, 1955-, guitar, Sylmar, California

MoogStar, 1965-, keyboards, Northridge, California

Michael Murphy, 1948-, keyboards, Sherman Oaks, California

Horn Section  -- Horn SectionVaughn Ambrose, 1975-, tenor saxophone, Alexandria, VirginiaDoug Gilchrist, 1970-, trombone, Silver Spring, MarylandGilbert E. Pryor, Jr., 1950-, trumpet, flugelhorn, Landover, Maryland

FRED WESLEY AND THE NEW JBs

Fred Wesley, 1943-, trombone, Manning, South Carolina

Bruce Cox, 1959-, drums, Brooklyn, New York

Dwayne Dolphin, 1963-, bass, Sewickley, Pennsylvania

Ernie Fields, Jr., 1934-, saxophone, flute, bagpipes, Los Angeles, California

Freddie Hendrix, 1976-, trumpet, Teaneck, New Jersey

Barney McAll, 1966-, keyboards, Brooklyn, New York

Reggie Ward, 1949-, guitar, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Joya Wesley, 1966-, group manager, Greensboro, North Carolina

KIM WESTON

Kim Weston, 1939-, singer, Detroit, Michigan

Performing with the Funk Brothers
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2011, Series 4
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials