Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun" Featuring actor Ron O'Neal, Black Heat, David Newman, Zulema. Hosted by Gerry Bledsoe.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Gerry Bledsoe welcomes audience, introduces Zulema. Singer & pianist Zulema performs "If This World Were Mine." Soul, R&B.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Singer & pianist Zulema performs a song about unwed mothers from a different point of view, "This Child of Mine." Soul, R&B.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Singer & pianist Zulema performs "I Leave It Up To You." Soul, R&B ballad.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Zulema admits to be bashful & nervous, introduces her backing singers (Something Different, Chris, Josh & Angel) & her backing band: Howard Wyatt, drums; Buffalo, bass guitar; Dennis Hubbin, guitar. Zulema performs a soul cover of the Paul McCartney tune "Maybe I'm Amazed."
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Singer & pianist Zulema performs a deep soul cover of the Carpenters hit "Close To You." Cool.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Gerry Bledsoe-- wearing ugly plaid pants & tight black turtleneck-- thanks Zulema, introduces clip from the blaxploitation classic "Superfly."
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
(DO NOT USE THIS SEGMENT) Clip from the blaxploitation standard "Superfly" (1972). "American Dream" scene between Ron O'Neal and Carl Lee.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Ellis Haizlip introduces "Superfly" actor Ron O'Neal. Ellis Haizlip says "Superfly" & "Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song" (Melvin Van Peebles) are responsible for the recent success of black films. As for the controversy surrounding "Superfly," Ron O'Neal says he's interested in how the audience responds to his work & hasn't caught any heat from them. Mr. O'Neal says the film is about the streets & the people who live on the streets; "The people for whom the film was largely intended did not seem to find a great deal of controversy in it." Ron O'Neal says he was not familiar w/ cocaine until filming "Superfly" & that he did some field research. Mr. O'Neal says his coke-hustling character (Youngblood Priest) could have just as easily been a pimp, numbers runner or preacher, but if they had known the controversy it would cause they would have not chosen otherwise.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Ellis Haizlip continues interview with "Superfly" actor Ron O'Neal. Sideview CU black man taking picture w/ camera, zoom lens. Ron O'Neal says the sudden fame has been enjoyable, tolerable, but it affects relationships w/ friends "which is not so groovy." Mr. O'Neal says he's from Cleveland, Ohio, and was trained at Karamu House community theater; taught at How You Act in Harlem; discusses the play "No Place To Be Somebody" for which he won an Obie Award.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Ellis Haizlip continues interview w/ actor Ron O'Neal. Ron O'Neal says he wrote the role of Youngblood Priest from "Superfly." Mr. O'Neal says his longest bout w/ unemployment came after "No Place To Be Somebody." Mr. O'Neal mentions a film he did w/ Sidney Poitier & Virgil Tibbs called "The Organization" & how "Superfly" came about (script & financing, specifically). The low-low budget tale of "Superfly." Mr. O'Neal gets Ellis Haizlip to admit that no one in their right mind would have invested in "Superfly" based upon the script alone. Too funny.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Ellis Haizlip continues interview w/ actor Ron O'Neal. Ron O'Neal says the sequel to "Superfly" will be more controversial than the original, and, in a prophetic tone, says that the film will spawn many copycat works. Mr. O'Neal says black politicians will never attack something that the majority of the black community enjoys. Mr. O'Neal says there's a good chance that a cinematic version of "No Place To Be Somebody" is in the works, to be filmed in New York City. Ellis Haizlip asks the viewing audience to write to "Soul!" Address appears on screen. Mr. Haizlip & audience thank Ron O'Neal. Mr. Haizlip introduces another clip from "Superfly."
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
(DO NOT USE THIS SEGMENT) Clip from "Superfly" (1972).
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Gerry Bledsoe introduces Black Heat with saxophonist David Newman. Black Heat (Raymond Green, Johnell Gray, Bradley Owens, Chip Jones, Escrow Cromer, Raymond Thompson) with David "Fathead" Newman perform "Chip's Funk" (funk instrumental with harmonica solo).
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Black Heat (Raymond Green, Johnell Gray, Bradley Owens, Chip Jones, Escrow Cromer, Raymond Thompson) perform "Street of Tears." Soulful R 'n' B ballad w/ vocal by Johnell Gray. Wah-drenched guitar.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Black Heat (Raymond Green, Johnell Gray, Bradley Owens, Chip Jones, Escrow Cromer, Raymond Thompson) with David Newman perform "You'll Never Know." Soulful R 'n' B ballad w/ vocal by Bradley Owens.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Percussionist Raymond Green introduces fellow members of Black Heat: organist Johnell Gray, guitarist Bradley Owens, bass player Chip Jones, drummer Escrow Cromer, tenor saxophonist Raymond Thompson, tenor saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Black Heat (Raymond Green, Johnell Gray, Bradley Owens, Chip Jones, Escrow Cromer, Raymond Thompson) with David Newman perform "The Jungle." Funk with vocal by Chip Jones. Raymond Thompson solos on tenor sax.
Soul! # 309 "Journey to the Sun"
Credits roll over images of audience digging Black Heat w/ David Newman continuing to perform "The Jungle."