Wattstax
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
“Brothers and Sisters, I don't know what this world is coming to” --Jesse Jackson introducing the Soul Children on Wattstax |
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Wattstax was a benefit concert organized by Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 riots in the African-American community of Watts, Los Angeles. The concert took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 1972. The concert's performers included all of Stax's prominent artists at the time. The genres of the songs performed included soul, gospel, R&B, blues, funk, and jazz. Months after the festival, Stax released a double LP of the concert's highlights, Wattstax: The Living Word. The concert was filmed by David L. Wolper's film crew and was made into the 1973 film titled Wattstax. The film was directed by Mel Stuart and nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Documentary Film in 1974.
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Festival
At around 1:45 p.m., the Coliseum grounds began filling with attendees. Guards stamped tickets and told concertgoers where their seats were located. The stadium's seats filled up quickly, while the production team was making sure everything was ready. The concert's orchestra (dubbed The Wattstax'72 Orchestra) and its composer, Dale Warren, sat until 2:38 p.m. ready to play their warm-up instrumental titled "Salvation Symphony". At 2:38 p.m., the first song was performed to a crowd of 112,000 (mostly African-American).
Performing artists
- 2:38: "Salvation Symphony" by Dale Warren
- 2:57: "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Kim Weston
- 3:01: Speech by Tommy Jacquette
- 3:05: Speeches by Anonymous Speakers
- 3:13: Introduction/"I Am Somebody" by Jesse Jackson
- 3:19: "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Kim Weston
- 3:23: Speech and Staple Singers Intro by Melvin Van Peebles and "Heavy Makes You Happy" by The Staple Singers
- 3:27: "Are You Sure" by The Staple Singers
- 3:31: "I Like the Things About Me" by The Staple Singers
- 3:37: "Respect Yourself" by The Staple Singers
- 3:42: "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers
- 3:47: "Somebody Bigger Than You and I" by Jimmy Jones
- 3:52: "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" by Deborah Manning
- 3:57: "Better Get A Move On" by Louise McCord
- 4:01: Unknown Performance by Eric Mercury
- 4:04: Unknown Performance by Freddie Robinson
- 4:09: "Them Hot Pants" by Lee Sain
- 4:13: Unknown Performance by Ernie Hines
- 4:17: "Wade in the Water" by Little Sonny
- 4:21: "Pin The Tail on the Donkey" by The Newcomers
- 4:24: "Explain It to Her, Mama" by The Temprees
- 4:27: "I’ve Been Lonely Too Long" by Frederick Knight
- 4:31: "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" by William Bell
- 4:34: "Knock on Wood" by Eddie Floyd
- 4:38: "Old-Time Religion" by The Golden Thirteen: William Bell, Louise McCord, Deborah Manning, Eric Mercury, Freddie Robinson, Lee Sain, Ernie Hines, Little Sonny, The Newcomers, Eddie Floyd, The Temprees, Frederick Knight
- 4:42: "Lying on the Truth" by Rance Allen
- 4:46: "Up Above My Head" by Rance Allen
- 4:50: "Introduction" by David Porter
- 4:54: "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)" by David Porter
- 4:58: "Can't See You When I Want To" by David Porter
- 5:09: "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" by David Porter
- 5:12: "Son of Shaft" by The Bar-Kays
- 5:18: "Feel It" by The Bar-Kays
- 5:23: "In the Hole" by The Bar-Kays
- 5:26: "I Can't Turn You Loose" by The Bar-Kays
- 5:31: Unknown Performances by Tommy Tate
- 5:41: "I Like What You're Doing (To Me)" by Carla Thomas
- 5:46: "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" by Carla Thomas
- 5:49: "B-A-B-Y" by Carla Thomas
- 5:52: "Pick Up the Pieces" by Carla Thomas
- 5:55: "I Have a God Who Loves" by Carla Thomas
- 6:00: "Matchbox Blues" by Albert King
- 6:05: "Got to Be Some Changes Made" by Albert King
- 6:11: "I'll Play the Blues for You" by Albert King
- 6:17: "Killing Floor" by Albert King
- 6:21: "Angel of Mercy" by Albert King
- 6:26: "The Breakdown" by Rufus Thomas
- 6:32: "Do the Funky Chicken" by Rufus Thomas
- 6:39: "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas
- 6:45: "I Don't Know What This World Is Coming to" by The Soul Children
- 6:52: "Hearsay" by The Soul Children
- 7:00: Speech by Fred Williamson and Jesse Jackson
- 7:03: "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" by Luther Ingram
- 7:06: "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
- 7:12: "Soulsville" by Isaac Hayes
- 7:17: "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Isaac Hayes
Production credits
- Directed by: Mel Stuart
- Produced by: Larry Shaw, Mel Stuart
- Executive Producers: Al Bell, David L. Wolper
- Associate Producer: Forest Hamilton, Hnic.
- Consultants: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Tommy Jacquette, Mafundi Institute, Rev. Jesse Boyd, Teddy Stewart, Richard Thomas, John W. Smith, Sylvester Williams, Carol Hall
- Cinematography: Roderick Young, Robert Marks, Jose Mignone, Larry Clark
- Edited by: Robert K. Lambert, David Newhouse, David Blewitt
- Assistant Director: Charles Washburn
- Concert Unit Director; Sid McCoy
- Production Coordinator: David Oyster
- Music Supervisor: Terry Manning
- Music Recording: Wally Heider, Inc.
- Post Production Supervisor: Philly Wylly
- Concert Artist Staging: Melvin Van Peebles
- Music Conductor: Dale Warren
- Lighting: Acey Dcey
- Production Staff: Jim Stewart, Johnny Baylor, Gary Holmes/Mind Benders, Humanities International, Edward Windsor Wright
See also