Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King's famous "I Have A Dream Speech." The speech and the march on Washington were seminal moments in the the Civil Rights Movement, leading to basic human rights for black citizens of the United States. As with all political movements, music played an integral role in moving the masses to action. Music Times has assembled a brief list of five essential records that led to the Civil Rights Movement, by artists that not only made great music, but made a difference.
5. "Ain't That Good News" by Sam Cooke (1963)
Blacks in the United States were desperately in need of some good news when this album debuted in 1963. Most of the tracks on the album are typical R&B fare, and the label didn't realize what it had until "A Change Is Gonna Come" was released as the fifth single, unfortunately after Cooke had died. The song, reportedly inspired by Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in The Wind," would become the defining anthem of the movement. Rolling Stone later ranked it as the no. 12 best song of all time.
4. "Southern Exposure" by Joshua White and His Carolinans (1941)
Josh White is a name remembered more often by historians than by music critics, unfortunately. "Southern Exposure" did just what the name suggested, featuring six tracks aimed at shaming the segregationist policies of the South. It caused such an uproar that some politicians brought the issue to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, not realizing the president and his wife were fans of the folk movement. Roosevelt and White became friends, and the musician became the first African-American to make a White House Command Performance.
3. "Let Freedom Ring" by The Freedom Singers (1963)
This Freedom Singers didn't form to sell records, so this is the only album in their name on the market, but it gives an example of the repertoire of the group. The Singers assembled in 1962 to tour the country, singing spirituals and protest songs to raise awareness for the Civil Rights Movement. They served as an "opening act" for Dr. King before he took the podium at the Lincoln Memorial. The group also performed in one of most epic folk recordings of all time, singing "We Shall Overcome" at the Newport Folk Festival along with Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary.
2. "We Insist!" by Max Roach (1960)
Max Roach might be a drummer (probably the best in jazz history) but that doesn't mean he didn't have anything to say. "We Insist!" not only took the plight of African-Americans into consideration ("Freedom Day") but also that of Africans around the world ("Tears for Johannesburg"). Featuring a talented lineup including saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and trumpet player Booker Little, the album doesn't dumb down its instrumental approach for the sake of its purpose. Critics weren't hot on Roach's message or his avant-garde musical approach when the album debuted, but it's now considered a masterpiece of jazz.
1. "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday (1939)
Columbia refused to release this track for Holiday, so the vocalist recorded it as a one-off for Commodore. The track never uses the word "lynch," but the metaphorical imagery leaves no debate as to what the song is about. Holiday filled her voice with pain, awe and confusion, a cocktail of emotion that devastates listeners who understand the context. The vocalist would close her shows with the song, refusing calls for an encore so that her (largely white) audience would leave with the message branded in their minds. Many songs took a soulful, upbeat approach to fighting for freedom, but the "Strange Fruit" brought the horrors of the segregationist South home to listeners. A new generation is now rediscovering the track after it was sampled in Kanye West's "Blood on The Leaves" (the song title itself is a quote from the song).
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