Martin Luther King Extravaganza With John Brown and William Curry

John Brown and William Curry can certainly command an audience, sometimes with just a gesture. And the repartee between the two is just fabulous...I enjoy the way William Curry raises his baton when a new artist is introduced or comes onto the stage...what a delightful gesture of respect.

Rene Marie, the guest singer for the evening was "scatting" with the audience while singing "Route 66."  True entertainment.

An actor by the name of Keith Snipes recited from memory King's speech "The Meaning of Jazz" and even sounded like King.

The "3 Black Kings" piece was unforgettable!  This made me want to bawl like a baby.  William Curry said the same thing when we talked back stage.  The piece is like a waltz and I thought of my little granddaughter.  Holding her and waltzing around.  The violin in that piece is awesome.

William Curry is a Teacher!  He told the audience how Louis Armstrong criticized Eisenhower for INACTION.

I spoke with the 1st trumpet play from Charleston (Charlton Singleton?) and asked him how it felt to play the beginning notes from It's a Wonderful World...It was awe inspiring.

Salute to the Duke

     Last night, I attended the second annual Sounds of Justice and Inclusion Concert at Duke, commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.  This was a concert of historic proportions that included a tribute to Duke Ellington. Maestro William Curry gave an eloquent presentation to the audience about the making of the song, "Three Black Kings."  He also told of meeting King while a student at Oberlin.
     That sparked my own memory of meeting Duke Ellington in 1970 At Disneyland.  It was their 25th anniversary and I was there around midnight.  We heard music coming from a small pavilion and noticed people dancing.  Walking closer, we could see Duke Ellington was directing.  I shook his hand.  I remember him being very tall and distinguished looking.  What a night!  Meeting Duke Ellington!
     At last night's concert, Ellington's "Three Black Kings" was performed as the last song.  William Curry introduced the piece, mentioning that this was Ellington's last piece and he wrote it in the hospital.  The Durham Symphony played with John Brown and his "Little Big Band."