W.E. A.L.L. B.E.: W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: If Memphis Could Talk...The Missing Chapters Part One

A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people.

No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.

Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.
~Frederick Douglass

Tha Artivist Writes:
Memphis has a unique history and culture that is often overlooked in favor of cliche overcommercialized hyped images of Sun Records, Elvis Presley and his Graceland Estate...

With that said Memphis is the cultural commerce capitol of the U.S.A....It is the epicenter of America's True Cultural Crossroads, where great men, great women and great ideas come together to be incubated and groomed for ultimate success in other destinations...

For example, the supermarket as we know it today was started by Clarence Saunders who started Piggly Wiggly in Memphis...Playwright giant Tennessee Williams premiered his first play in Memphis...Singing legend Aretha Franklin was born in South Memphis and literary icon Richard Wright spent part of his childhood growing up in New Chicago in the North Memphis area...

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV proudly presents our efforts to date in telling the powerful and historic stories about The City Of Good Abode,both triumphant and tragic, that are not normally well known by its citizens or provided any notice in textbooks used by our school children..It is our hope that what is learned from our efforts will be amplified by people building upon a tradition that is not only exceptional but essential in our understanding of who we are and where we are going by learning where we have been...

Note: High Quality DVDs of the following shows along with supporting materials are available for purchase...Please e-mail us @ r2c2h2@gmail.com for details.

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W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: Hallelujah! The First All Black Talkie Movie Made In Memphis U.S.A.!!!

Advertised as an "all-colored" production, the movie was arguably the first major-studio attempt to present the lives of African-Americans with sensitivity and artistry. Although its racial stereotyping may trouble or embarrass viewers today, it remains probably the most significant movie ever shot in the Mid-South, and a milestone on the road that led from Stepin Fetchit to Sidney Poitier to Spike Lee.~John Beifuss of The Memphis Commercial Appeal

'Hallelujah!' Not 'Hustle And Flow' was the film that put Memphis on the cinematic map. This episode highlights the first ever Hollywood produced All Black Cast Talkie Movie featuring the first Black Hollywood Sex Symbol, the great Nina Mae McKinney. Tha Artivist interviews Ruby Carter, the daughter of Georgia Woodruff, a featured singer in the film and well known Memphis Gospel Music Great, about her mom’s role as well as the historical and cultural significance of the Academy Award nominated film itself.

Watch The Full Updated Version:

http://blip.tv/file/4131649

View All 3 Parts On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV By Perusing The Following Links:

Part One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry10hGop8nk&feature=channel_page

Part Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYNnjI8swdU&feature=channel_page

Part Three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqQdsOFeEyA&feature=channel_page

See Also...

All-Black Memphis Film Honored: 1929 Talkie Named 1 Of '25 Important Motion Pictures'...
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-black-memphis-film-honored-1929.html

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W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV Presents...Tom Lee: A Memphis Hero
Watch The Full Documentary:

http://www.blip.tv/file/4106139

Featured Guests: Tom Lee's Descendants (Sis. Charmeal & Bro. Eric Alexander) Share With Us The Awesome Story & Legacy Of Their Ancestor

Left to Right: W.E. A.L.L. B.E.'s Bro. R2C2H2 Tha Artivist, Amnesty International's Bro. David Hinkley & Sis. Charmeal Alexander

R2C2H2 Tha Artivist & Bro. Eric Alexander

Why Tom Lee Is A Hero:

On May 8, 1925 Tom Lee, a Black man who couldn't swim and with help from his trusty small wooden motor boat ZEV, saved 32 prominent white people from drowning in the mighty and unforgiving waters of the Mississippi River. 8 days later he was a guest of honor in the Rose Garden of The White House where he shook hands with U.S. Pres. Calvin Coolidge.

In spite of race relations in those polarizing times, Tom Lee was considered a hero by both the white & Black citizens of Memphis. For his heroism he was awarded a house as well as became the first Black hired by the city.

Real Talk With Tha Artivist interviews the proud descendants of Tom Lee, Sis. Charmeal & Bro. Eric Alexander, on their ancestors legacy as well as their efforts to make sure that others wont forget and hopefully become inspired by Tom Lees example of courage.

Visit The Official Tom Lee Website:
http://www.tomleeamemphishero.webs.com/

Or You Can Watch The Documentary In Three Parts On Youtube:

*Video*Tom Lee: A Memphis Hero~Part 1 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhrVRcYF_pI

*Video*Tom Lee: A Memphis Hero~Part 2 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdgheJr0Kv4

*Video*Tom Lee: A Memphis Hero~Part 3 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0vx7O3V1QQ

*Listen To The Complete Interview On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Radio!!!*

If Memphis Could Talk~Part 5

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2009/01/29/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

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W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV Remembers The Late Great Johnny Ace: Rock-N-Roll's First Star
Christmas Night 55 Years Ago A Man Died & A Legend Was Born…Join Us In Never Forgetting The Late Great Johnny Ace, Rock-N-Roll’s First King

Who Was Johnny Ace???

"Well, just call me Ace, but don't let my momma know, because the first thing she'll want to know is 'What is an Ace?'." - John Alexander Jr. speaking to his original producer, David Mattis, upon coming up with the name change to Johnny Ace in 1952.

"When I heard it ('My Song') I told him, 'God that's nice!'." - Johnny Otis, Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Famer, who'd go on to produce Ace's most famous sides shortly thereafter, on the charm of Ace's debut record.

"(Ace & Thornton) hit town with such an impact that it caused the whole of 125th and vicinity to just shake, rattle & roll" - R&B Notes trade publication commenting on the response to the Johnny Ace Revue at the Apollo Theater, April 1954.

"Johnny Ace was the most unassuming person. Sweetest thing since sugar." - Evelyn Johnson, operator of the Buffalo Booking Agency, the company for which Ace toured.

"That for me is meaningful music. The singers and musicians I grew up with transcend nostalgia - Johnny Ace is just as valid to me today as then." - Bob Dylan.

(June 9, 1929-Dec. 25, 1954)

View W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV Special Documentary About Johnny Ace In 3 Parts:

Video:Tha Artivist Remembers The Late Great Johnny Ace...Part One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMWn9eCZAPE

Video:Tha Artivist Remembers The Late Great Johnny Ace...Part Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWxMW-pryr8

Video:Tha Artivist Remembers The Late Great Johnny Ace...Part Three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WeFuwX82jY

See Also

http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_artists-bio/Johnny-Ace.html

http://www.scottymoore.net/houstonAud.html

http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/ACE/john-ace.htm

*W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Radio Special*
Topic: Pledging Our Love...The Ultimate Johnny Ace Tribute
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2009/12/31/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

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W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV Special...The Shame Of A City: The Forrest Park Controversy

“Never stand and take a charge... charge them too. “
“No damn man kills me and lives.”
~Nathan Bedford Forrest

©photo courtesy of The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Group

The Inside Agitators: The Dr. Isaac Richmond led CORR (Commission On Religion & Racism) protesting the existence of Forrest Park on April 4, 2009, the 41st anniversary observation of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination in 'The City Of Good Abode.'

'The Wizard Of The Saddle' & 'The First Grand Wizard Of The KKK': The (In)Famous Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest

©photo courtesy of The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Group
Revisionist History Or Heritage? Forrest's Equestrian Statue Faces South With 'Old Glory' (U.S. Flag) In Background...

The Shame Of A City: The Forrest Park Controversy (Full Documentary):

http://blip.tv/file/3177680

Or View In Three Parts On Youtube...

Video: The Shame Of A City: The Forrest Park Controversy Part 1 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOmf_yzdBp0&feature=channel_page

Video: The Shame Of A City: The Forrest Park Controversy Part 2 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRgaEsQMX0Q&feature=channel_page

Video: The Shame Of A City: The Forrest Park Controversy Part 3 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugWSgO3xm8k&feature=channel_page

See also...
The Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest Historical Society
http://www.tennessee-scv.org/ForrestHistSociety/index.html

For More Related Information On The Legacy of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest & The Forrest Park Controversy On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News:

An Artivist Remembers…The Grand Old School & The Grand Ol’ Wizard: Wash U. & Gen. Forrest http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2009/09/artivist-remembersthe-grand-old-school.html

Monumental Battle: The Genesis Of The Forrest Park Controversy...
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2009/09/monumental-battle-genesis-of-forrest.html

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And Rhythm Was His Business...Jimmie Lunceford: A Memphis Music Legend

"Jimmie Lunceford Has The Best Of All Bands. Duke [Ellington] Is Great, [Count] Basie Is Remarkable, But Lunceford Tops Them Both."

-- Legendary Swing Band Leader Glenn Miller

"Jimmy Lunceford Was Buried Here In Memphis. The Spot He Occupies Should Have Something Of A Special Significance. ...He Took A Group Of Relatively Unsophisticated Memphis Colored Boys And Welded Them Into An Organization Which Scaled The Heights Of Musical Eminence. ... He Presented Something New In The Way Of Musical Presentations By Negro Orchestras."

--Legendary Memphis Educator And Syndicated Columnist Nat D. Williams

Although in recent days he was finally awarded a long overdue brass note on the street (Beale Street) that he helped made famous, the tantalizing question still remains for many in the City of Good Abode: Who Was Jimmie Lunceford???

In less than 30 minutes R2C2H2 Tha Artivist plans to answer that exact question with analysis from experts and the people who knew him the best.

“W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News Presents…Real Talk With Tha Artivist” takes great pride and honor in honoring a true gentleman whose creative genius and legacy knows no boundaries...James “Jimmie” Melvin Lunceford was considered by many to be among jazz's greatest swing band leaders...His Orchestra was nicknamed 'The Harlem Express' because of their overwhelming popularity with the African American community of the 1930s & 40s...His fame also extended beyond that proud community for he was also recognized by the larger national and international audiences as well...

Leading a band composed of his former high school students from the future Jazz Mecca Manassas High School (where he became the Memphis City Schools' first high school band director , amazingly starting a world class band with little start up money or any support from the school system) and his college buddies from Fisk University, The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra eventually became the house band for the legendary Cotton Club in storied Harlem, NY...The band became wildly famous because of their exceptional stage shows and the weekly live radio broadcasts from the club that were heard throughout the entire U.S....

Please join us in learning more about a man who owned and flew his own airplanes at a time when Blacks were not allowed to attend flight schools in the U.S....Learn more about a man who never forgot his teacher roots and would spend generous sums of money to start and support music education programs throughout the country to fight juvenile delinquency and dropout rates...Learn more about the former star athlete and ambitious teacher who became a movie star and a headliner & legend in his own time before dying under mysterious circumstances at the young age of 45 almost 62 years ago...Learn more about the efforts currently being done to restore this man's rightful place in the jazz pantheon and to ensure his legacy of perseverance, creativity, education and hope lives on in our youths and greater community for generations to come...

For More Information On Jimmie Lunceford & The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Please Visit

http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com

And Rhythm Was His Business...Jimmie Lunceford: A Memphis Music Legend (Full Documentary)

http://blip.tv/file/3187499

OR
Please View All 3 Parts Of This Episode On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV By Perusing The Following Links:
Part One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHSBrxpBxro&feature=channel_page

Part Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGiYBJHb9TM&feature=channel_page

Part Three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9O8jL4f1VU&feature=channel_page

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV~"Jimmie Lunceford: A Memphis Legend"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hv_Mva_Y6M&feature=channel_page

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~2nd Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2008/10/12/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. News & Radio Special~1st Annual Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Radio Program:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2007/10/21/tha-artivist-presentswe-all-be-radio

Buy Jimmie Lunceford Art & Gear To Support The Jimmie Lunceford Jamboree Festival Movement...

http://jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com/2008/12/buy-jimmie-lunceford-art-gear-to.html

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Not Your Average Joe: Joe B. Scott, Negro Leagues Star

2 Hall Of Fame Worthy Talents: Joe B. Scott & R2C2H2 Tha Artivist

“Real Talk With Tha Artivist” & W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Radio recently interviewed baseball great Mr. Joe B. Scott, one of the last living baseball players to have played his entire career in the Negro Leagues…Mr. Joe B. Scott was discovered by baseball legend Satchel Paige and was the first African American to play Wrigley Field, the home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs...To see the entire three part interview please check out the following videos:

Video*Not Your Average Joe: Joe B. Scott, Negro Leagues Star* Part 1 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phK-7JUlNgE

Video*Not Your Average Joe: Joe B. Scott, Negro Leagues Star* Part 2 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsb-5SKaIQ8

Video*Not Your Average Joe: Joe B. Scott, Negro Leagues Star* Part 3 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukT7UN72O-8

See Also...
Negro League Legends Joe Scott & Others Honored By Major League Baseball...
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2008/02/sun-mar-3-4pm-central5pm-easternnegro.html

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Radio*If Memphis Could Talk Part 7*Not Your Average Joe: Joe B. Scott, Negro Leagues Star:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2009/07/16/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio

One Of The Last Living Negro Leagues Baseball Players Gets His Flowers...
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2008/02/one-of-last-living-negro-leagues.html

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Abel & Ready: A Conversion With Mr. Emerson Able, Jr., A Memphis Music Icon

Legendary Memphis Musician, Educator And 2007 Jimmy Lunceford Jamboree Festival Legacy Award Honoree Bro. Emerson Able And R2C2H2 Tha Artivist

View In Three parts On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV:

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNVmVE6arF0

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OBHWnjnkmM

Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1ilzWnHu80

Who Is Emerson Able, Jr.?
Just want to provide a history note of legendary Memphis music educator and practitioner Mr. Emerson Able, 2007 Jimmie Lunceford Legacy™ Awardee. He comes from a family of entertainers: his grandmother was a piano player and great friend of blues great Alberta Hunter and one of his uncles was a tap dancer in the groundbreaking Hallelujah! The first talkie Hollywood movie with an all Black cast filmed in Memphis...

He was the high school band instructor of Isaac Hayes and eventually kicked him out of the band due to him not taking it seriously. When Isaac recorded at Staxx, he hired Mr. Able to compose his music along with playing tenor saxophone in his band. Mr. Able is also one of the greatest Band instructors in Manassas’ and Memphis City Schools’ history, a position pioneered and started by Mr. Jimmie Lunceford, Memphis City Schools’ first high school band instructor.

As a student at Manassas High School, Mr. Able used to perform in the Manassas Rhythm Bombers Band…On occasion the band received encouragement and instruction from the great Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra when they visited Memphis.

This is just a small contribution that Mr. Able has given to music be it Jazz, Blues, etc. He has thousands and thousands of legacies who have learned from him or been impacted.

I heard him play at the Jimmie Lunceford Wreath Laying Ceremony in June and what a sound he has!

Please take the time to listen. We must learn our history in order to grow from it. It doesn't make any sense to start from scratch when you can learn from others. To Learn More About Mr. Emerson Able and Jimmie Lunceford please visit http://www.jimmieluncefordjam.blogspot.com

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