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"Soul Sisters triumphant!": From Psychedelia
to Funk, 1967-1975.
The human race started from Africa. When
drought hit, around 24 members of the Bushmen
tribe set out into the unknown for food. The
global journey of their generations seeded
the entire planet over the next 50,000 years.
These two dozen Africans created every one of
us. We are all family, we've just forgotten
it.
In the 1950's, sparked by Rosa Parks, the
Civil Rights movement challenged segregation.
The resulting 60's Counterculture meant to
free the mind, body, and spirit from any
shackles. They embraced the tribal and the
communal, the future and each other. The late
60's-early 70's was a golden age of
connection and exploration opening the
possibilities that created the best in the
world we now live in. This is a story of our
shared jouney we shouldn't forget.
Here are many Soul Sisters who paved our
path: LT. UHURA opened the future on "Star
Trek"; the tribal Rock musical HAIR
personified the re-evolution, which also gave
us Melba Moore, Donna Summer, Leata Galloway,
Marsha Hunt, Ben Vereen, Phillip Michael
Thomas, and many more; all-inclusive music
groups like BOOKER T & THE MG's, SLY & THE
FAMILY STONE, ROTARY CONNECTION, JIMI HENDRIX
EXPERIENCE, The Loading Zone, Santana, and
The Chambers Brothers; new world couples like
Jimi Hendrix and Devon Wilson, Brian Jones
and Donyale Luna; activist singers like NINA
SIMONE; Native American and African clothes
and hairstyles were reborn; this opened the
door for MIRIAM MAKEBA and other World Musics
into the mainstream; MARSHA "Brown Sugar"
HUNT set the template for Betty Davis and the
next decade of Funk Rock women; MILES and
BETTY DAVIS stirred Funk and Psychedelia into
the Fusion Jazz of "Bitches Brew"; by '69,
the Fashion industry was opened by JOLIE
JONES, NAOMI SIMS, DONYALE LUNA, Carole La
Brie, Beverly Johnson, Jane Kennedy, and
African ELIZABETH OF TORO; as Feminism dawned
in the early 70's, ELAINE BROWN took command
of the generally sexist Black Panther Party
while ANGELA DAVIS fought The Man; modern
poet/authors like NIKI GIOVANNI, Toni
Morrison, and Alice Walker inspired waves of
new students; the new archetype of 'Soul
Sister', with brains, class, style, and
attitude, took its first proud strut; this
modern amazon ruled the screens with actors
like PAM GRIER, TAMARA DOBSON, CAROL SPEED
(cutest eyes ever!), THERESA GRAVES, Vonetta
McGhee, Jeane Belle, and Gloria Hendry; and
in the comics with Wonder Woman's sister,
NUBIA, and feiry STORM of the X-MEN.
These women created: bohemian musicians like
Ruth Copeland, Funkadelic, Joyce Kennedy
(Mothers Finest), Parlet and Brides Of
Funkenstein, Grace Jones, Prince & the
Revolution, Public Enemy, the Native Tongues
rappers, Lenny Kravitz, Cree Summer, Nenah
Cherry, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Dionne Farris,
Skin (Skunk Anansie), Erykah Badu, The Roots,
Joi, Kelis, India Arie, Joss Stone, Corinne
Bailey Rae, and Nikka Costa; World musicians
like Osibisa, Fela, King Sunny Ade, Ladysmith
Black Mambazo, Mahotella Queens, Zap Mama,
Cesaria Evora, Angelique Kidjo, and
Antibalas; models like Naomi Campbell, Iman,
Waris Dalie, and Alek Wek; activists like
bell hooks, Sister Souljah, and Pam The
Funkstress (The Coup); tough actors like Gina
Torres (FIREFLY/ SERENITY), Halle Barry
(CATWOMAN, X-MEN), and Jada Pinkett Smith
(THE MATRIX); and superheroines like Vixen,
Misty Knight, Monica Rambeau (Captain
Marvel), and Natasha Irons (Steel).
About ROTARY CONNECTION: The Chess label
parlayed modern blues (Muddy Waters, Howlin'
Wolf) and Rock'n'roll (Chuck Berry, Bo
Diddley) in the 50's. Young heir Marshall
Chess stirred them into the psychedelic 60's
with the RC. It combined a rock group with
soul singers, all arranged by the radical
Charles Stepney with jazz changes, operatic
chorales, electronic dissonance, and sweeping
strings. It also introduced Minnie Ripperton,
who went on to glory with "Loving You" later.
Though Minnie has sadly passed, her daughter
Maya Rudolph is a shining star on "Saturday
Night Live". Stepney went on to arrange the
great hits of Earth Wind & Fire. And
Nuyorican Soul made "Black Gold" a modern
standard with their 1997 remix hit.
Who is the black gold of the sun? We all are.
Check out:
http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/
http://press.princeton.edu/quotes/q7442.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_Connectio
n
http://www.myspace.com/therotaryconnection
http://www.myspace.com/charlesstepney
(All rights reserved. Fan-made video to
promote the artist and awareness.)
tym stevens
Tags : RotaryConnection SlyFamilyStone JimiHendrix BettyDavis Funkadelic LennyKravitz NuyoricanSoul MinnieRipperton Funk |
