He was the first american artist, black or white, to realize that the role of the artist extends far beyond the stage and the. Paul robesons role in spain remembered peoples world. Tribute to an artist sanders of the river jericho the. Paul robeson was indeed more than an artist, activist and freedom fighter. He is the winner of several distinguished awards including the judges choice award at the 2001 metropolitan operas district competition, and the south carolina district winner of that competition. The son of an escaped slave, robeson managed to become a topbilled movie. Mckinney graduated from the university of north carolina school of the arts. Turells academy award winning documentary short paul robeson.
Turell, narrated by actor sidney poitier and originally distributed by janus films. Paul robeson was an acclaimed 20thcentury performer known for productions like the emperor jones and othello. Paul robeson, the singer, actor and black activist, died yesterday at the age of 77 in philadelphia. General, professional, passport case and organizations, the collection consists mainly of correspondence, manuscripts and printed matter, and represents for the most part office files of the united freedom fund, established in 1952. Tribute to an artist, i couldnt help that any film about this remarkable man cannot adequately sum him up in under 30 minutes. Sixty years after india celebrated the african american singers 60th. Tribute toan artist 1979 body and soul 1925 borderline 1930 sanders of the river 1935 jericho 1937 the proud valley 1940 native land 1942. Tribute to an artist concert artist, shakespearean actor, allamerican athlete, scholar, civil rights champion paul robeson overcame tremendous obstacles to become a true 20thcentury renaissance man. He dedicated it to paul robeson, though robeson didnt accept the role as.
The paul robeson collection 19261956 documents robeson s artistic and political career from 1949 to 1956. His early accomplishments as a professional football player, columbia law school graduate, and an actor on broadway in the 1920s seemed but a prologue to even greater achievements to come. Tribute to an artist is an autobiography movie that was released in 1979. He also studied swahili and linguistics at the school of. Come and experience michael pauls extraordinary voice in this oneman show of songs, stories, and more. Find paul robeson similar, influenced by and follower information on allmusic. Wilson, fredi washington, ruby elzy, george haymid stamper, brandon evans. Civil war, on the subject of which he eloquently described his role as an artist. Robeson s voice is magisterial and to hear him in such simple setting is a delight. Paul robesonactivist, artist, athleteexperienced a dramatic rise and fall. Fahey learned to play countrystyle guitar in the footsteps of hank williams and eddy arnold at the age of 14, inspired by the recordings of blind willie johnson, and other blues greats. A 20thcentury renaissance man actor, athlete, singer, social activist, lawyer, author and scholar paul robeson mesmerized audiences with his talent and commanding presence. Recorded on his own othello label in the 1950s, robesons voice rings out with traditional spirituals and folk melodies from around the. Collectors paul robeson import robeson, paul artist format.
An american giant of 20thcentury music, paul robeson stood tall against racism, mccarthyism, and blacklisting to proclaim the majesty of africanamerican culture. Paul robeson april 9, 1898 january 23, 1976 was a multilingual american actor, athlete, bassbaritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, spingarn medal winner, and lenin peace prize laureate. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Great artist, great american introduction by philip. Ol man river was composed by jerome kern for show boat 1927, a musical based on edna ferbers 1926 novel. He continued this fight for freedom, both political and artistic, until his death in 1976. The british film institute hosted a special retrospective on robesons life last fall. Licensed to youtube by wmg on behalf of cherry red records.
Turells oscar winning 1979 documentary short film, paul robeson. The film is about actor and activist paul robeson and his work in civil rights. Its included as a special feature on a collection of robeson films by criterion and can be found on disk 1. All paul robeson artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30day moneyback guarantee. Hearing summertime sung by a bass baritone puts a different spin on it. Paul robeson biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Welsh miners hero paul robesons life to be turned into a film by 12 years a slave director. Paul robeson may be the most important africanamerican entertainer of the 20th century, but his recorded legacy is so compromised that a dvd set like criterions paul robeson. Paul robesons career as a musician mirrored his refusal to disavow his political radicalism and. An athlete who has also played professional football while at the same time being valedictorian at his university. In 1937, robeson wrote, the artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery.
But his film legacy lives on and continues to speak eloquently of the long and difficult journey of a courageous and outspoken african american. Allamerican athlete, scholar, renowned baritone, stage actor, and social activist, paul robeson 18981976 was a towering figure and a trailblazer many times over. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards. Paul robeson paul robeson vinyl records and cds for sale. Paul robeson speaks writings speeches interviews 1918 1974. Concert artists who have sold out shows around the.
Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his career through his activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, ol man river. By 1937 paul robeson had become world famous as a concert singer, stage and movie performer, and he was still under forty. The undiscovered paul robeson, an artists journey, 1898. He also spoke about his book confronting black jacobins. Shop for paul robeson art from the worlds greatest living artists. A tall, handsome man with a commanding stage presence and mellifluous, booming baritone, he was not only a distinguished actor and singer but also a scholar, athlete and lawyer. Portraits of the artist may be the only way to understand him.
And as a writer and speaker, he was a vital force in the promotion of equality and freedom in america. Paul leroy robeson was an american bass baritone concert artist and stage and film actor who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his political activism. When the famous africanamerican actor and singer paul robeson played the lead in shakespeares othello. Controversial singer, actor, and political force whose booming baritone and oratory skill made him an iconic figure of the 20th century. The collectors paul robeson smithsonian folkways recordings. He also studied swahili and linguistics at the school of oriental and african studies, london in 1934. French, and italian art songsthe core of the classical repertoire.
The collectors paul robeson paul robeson while well known as a political activist and actor, paul robeson the singer also had a commanding presence, achieved through the quality of his baritone and the feeling he brought to the songs he chose to sing. Apr 09, 2012 in addition to being an actor, activist, and orator, robeson was a star of the concert hall. Turell profiles early 20thcentury american singer paul robeson. Turells academy awardwinning 1979 documentary short, paul robeson. Portraits of the artist features several of robesons films and an abundance of. Price new from used from audio cd, import, september 11, 1993. Paul robeson paul robeson live at carnegie hall amazon. In 2018, a special tribute was paid to robeson at the national. Pauls mother, maria louisa bustin, came from a family that had been involved in the campaign for african. How about an athlete who has won 15 varsity letters in four different sports. Educated at rutgers college and columbia university, he was also a star athlete in his youth. The story of how an american icon was driven to death to be told in film. Jan 28, 2006 paul robeson, spain and the antifascist crusade by william loren katz on january 28, 2006 by 1937 paul robeson had become world famous as a concert singer, stage and movie performer, and he was still under forty.
About us work for us download our eeditions letters to the. He was perhaps most groundbreaking, however, in the medium of film. The son of an escaped slave, robeson managed to become a topbilled movie star during the time of jim crow america, headlining everything from fellow pioneer. Cornel west for this discussion on the career and legacy of legendary singer, actor, and political. In italy a selfstyled caesar set out to win an empire. He was a gifted athlete, musician, scholar, actor, and activist who. Paul robeson, the artist as activist and social thinker.
Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bassbaritone voice. Paul robeson, edward chapman, leslie banks, dudley digges, frank h. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards for documentary short subject. It is a wonderful example of what paul robeson s reputation was all about. An examination of the life of actor and singer paul robeson, from his first major. January 23, 1976 philadelphia, pennsylvania africanamerican bassbaritone concert singer, actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, scholar and lawyer who was also noted for his wideranging social justice activism. Paul robeson live with just a piano to accompany him. Tribute to an artist 1979 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Portraits of the artist body and soul borderline the emperor jones paul robeson. How paul robeson found his political voice in the welsh valleys. The paul robeson residence, a national historic landmark, is located at 555 edgecombe avenue in new york city. March 26, 2007 a new criterion fourdvd box set paul robeson. The dimensions of his talent made him our renaissance man.
Aug 15, 2016 background how many people do you know who are athletes. How paul robeson found his political voice in the welsh. Yet this aspect of his career came about almost by accident, as explained by narrator sidney poitier in the following clip from saul j. John aloysius fahey, 28 february 1939, takoma park, maryland, usa, d. The son of a runaway slave turned minister and a schoolteacher, paul robeson proved to be an unique figure in american history.
The artist as revolutionary, his biography of actor, singer, and activist, paul robeson. Tribute to an artist sanders of the river jericho the proud valley native land the criterion collection. This academy awardwinning halfhour documentary was directed and written by saul j. Paul robeson from paul robesons treasure chest discogs.
Ryan murphy sets a chorus line miniseries, halston biopic starring ewan mcgregor at netflix. Come and experience michael paul s extraordinary voice in this oneman show of songs, stories, and more. His name was haloed with the sort of respect accorded to few performers. Tribute to an artist is a 1979 american short documentary film directed by saul j. The film was narrated by sidney poitier, and in the film it shows old footage of the late actor in various movies and entertainment. The story of paul robeson and the unbreakable bond he formed. When i was growing up in britain in the 1950s and 1960s, paul robeson was much in evidence, on records, on the radio, on television. Paul robeson, the son of william drew robeson, a former slave, was born in princeton, new jersey on 9th april, 1898. Paul robeson excelled as an athlete, actor, singer, and activist, qualifying him as a contemporary renaissance man. Albums include ol man river ah still suits me, spirituals, and songs of free men. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his. Paul robeson was a prominent figure in the harlem renaissance, overcoming overt racism to star. Jul 02, 2017 how paul robeson found his political voice in the welsh valleys. Paul robeson 1898 1976 was an american actor, athlete, singer, writer, civil rights activist, and a great.
Paul robesons testimony before the house unamerican activities committee. Paul robeson, singer, actor and activist my father was a slave and my people died to build this country and i am going to stay here and have a part in it just like you. Jan 04, 2017 paul robesons role in spain remembered. Paul robeson is certainly one of the more tragic figures in 20thcentury u. A significant part of this collection is blocksons collection of paul robeson materials. As a singer, robesons deep and powerful voice demanded attention when he sang traditional africanamerican folk songs and spirituals, accompanied by orchestra from the 20s onward. Gerald horne a worldfamous singer and actor, a trained lawyer, an early star of american professional football and a polyglot who spoke over a dozen languages. Tribute to an artist is famous documentary short by saul j.
The fascist governments of nazi germany and italy gave general franco, the military leader of the spanish fascist rebellion, massive support. Narrated by none other than sidney poitier, this thirtythree minute movie provides biographical details on robeson and it. Tribute to an artist ist ein usamerikanischer dokumentarfilm aus dem jahr 1979. Entertainer and activist paul robeson s political philosophies and outspoken views about domestic and international communist countries and movements were the subject of great concern to the western mass media and the united states government, during the cold war. Joe hill was a poet and union organiser for the industrial workers of the world iww, executed on a trumpedup murder charge in 1915 and subsequently immortalised as a workers hero of similar stature to robeson himself. Portrait of an artist is an interesting, if all too brief, look at the life and times of its subject. Turells academy awardwinning documentary short paul robeson. All paul robeson photographs ship within 48 hours and include a 30day moneyback guarantee. April 9, 1898 january 23, 1976 was an american bass baritone concert artist and stage and film actor who became famous both for his cultural accomplishments and for his political activism. Choose your favorite paul robeson designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more. Dec 06, 2007 here is a famous song performed live in moscow in 1949 by the legendary paul robeson. This 1979 oscarwinning documentary recalls the life of paul robeson 18981976athlete, actor, singer and political activist. More importantly the film transfer itself is horrific. Turell that was designed to educate people about the career of paul robeson, an american artist few people knew or remembered because there was a conceded effort to wipe him from history.