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SOUNDSTAGE: THE WORLD OF JOHN HAMMOND (TV)

Summary

This musical tribute celebrates the work of record producer and discoverer of new talent, John Hammond, "one of the really remarkable individuals of American music." Goddard Lieberson opens with a photographic essay about musicians who were touched by Hammond's career, including Bessie Smith, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and others. Highlights include the following: gospel singer Marian Williams sings "How I Got Over," accompanied by Jessy Dixon and Milt Hinton; Jerry Wexler, Lieberson, and Hammond discuss the influence of gospel music on rock 'n' roll and also discuss blues singer Smith; in a film excerpt, Smith sings "St. Louis Blues"; Benny Carter, Benny Morton, George Benson, Jo Jones, Red Norvo, Milt Hinton, and Teddy Wilson play "Riff Interlude" and "John's Idea"; and Helen Humes sings "T'Ain't Nobody's Business," "Body and Soul," and "Song of the Wanderer," accompanied variously by Gerald Wiggins, Hinton, Jones, Benson, Norvo, Carter, and Morton. Other highlights include the following: Benny Goodman speaks with Hammond and co-hosts Goddard Lieberson and Jerry Wexler about jazz in the 1930s and the role of Chicago as "haven of the music industry"; Goodman performs several songs on the clarinet, including "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry?," "Sweet Lorraine," "Avalon," and "Seven Come Eleven," accompanied by Jo Jones, Teddy Wilson, George Benson, Red Norvo, and Milt Hinton.

The program continues with the following: Hammond and co-hosts Goddard Lieberson and Jerry Wexler discuss the career of singer Billie Holiday; in an excerpt from the 1957 television show, "The Sound of Jazz," Holiday sings "Fine and Mellow," accompanied by Lester Young, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, Vic Dickenson, and others; Wilson and jazz critic Leonard Feather join the co-hosts and Hammond in a discussion of Hammond's role in intergrating jazz performances in the 1930s; Wilson plays "I Must Have That Man" and "I Cried for You" on the piano, accompanied by Jo Jones and Milt Hinton; Norvo and Benny Carter join the co-hosts and Hammond in a discussion on the careers of Ella Fitzgerald and Mildred Bailey; blues singer Sonny Terry plays harmonica and sings "My Woman Chained the Door" and "Whoopin' the Blues"; Mitch Miller joins the group with a tribute to Hammond; blues singer John Hammond, Jr., plays guitar and harmonica, and sings "Terraplane Blues" and joins Terry on "I Can't Find My Baby." Then, Goddard Lieberson, Jerry Wexler, and John Hammond, Sr., briefly discuss the "progressive" influence of Bob Dylan on the music of the 1960s, and Dylan performs the songs "Hurricane," "Oh, Sister," and "Simple Twist of Fate."

Details

  • NETWORK: PBS
  • DATE: December 6, 1975 Saturday 7:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 2:52:46
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T81:0394
  • GENRE: Music
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Blues; Gospel music; Jazz
  • SERIES RUN: PBS (American Public Television) - TV series, 1971-1985
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Ken Ehrlich … Executive Producer
  • John McDonough … Associate Producer
  • Eliot Wald … Associate Producer
  • Dave Erdman … Director
  • Marian Williams … Singer
  • Bob Dylan … Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist, Harmonica Player
  • Sonny Terry … Singer, Instrumentalist, Harmonica Player
  • George Benson … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
  • Benny Carter … Instrumentalist, Alto Saxophonist
  • Vic Dickenson … Instrumentalist, Trombonist
  • Jessy Dixon … Instrumentalist, Pianist
  • Benny Goodman … Instrumentalist, Clarinetist
  • John Hammond … Instrumentalist, Guitarist, Harmonica Player
  • Milt Hinton … Instrumentalist, Bassist
  • Jo Jones … Instrumentalist, Drummer
  • Benny Morton … Instrumentalist, Trombonist
  • Gerry Mulligan … Instrumentalist, Baritone Saxophonist
  • Red Norvo … Instrumentalist, Vibes Player
  • Ben Webster … Instrumentalist, Tenor Saxophonist
  • Gerald Wiggins … Instrumentalist, Pianist
  • Teddy Wilson … Instrumentalist, Pianist
  • Lester Young … Instrumentalist, Tenor Saxophonist
  • Goddard Lieberson … Host
  • Jerry Wexler … Host
  • Mildred Bailey
  • Leonard Feather
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Aretha Franklin
  • Billie Holiday
  • Helen Humes
  • Mitch Miller
  • Bessie Smith