He told attendees at a robeson centennial tribute in late may of that year, my own. Apr 05, 2020 paul robeson, celebrated american singer, actor, and black activist. That isnt strictly true, if only because robeson had few hits in the accepted sense, but the 20track, hourlong album is a good sampler of robesons studio recordings. An evening of edutainment in celebration of robeson, powerful international performer and courageous champion of civil rights. Albums include ol man river ah still suits me, spirituals, and songs of free men. Paul robeson biography afrocentric voices in classical music. Beacon press 1958, 1971 edition with preface by lloyd l. Paul robeson 18981976 was the quintessential artist as global activist. Paul robeson, edward chapman, leslie banks, dudley digges, frank h. Portraits of the artist body and soul borderline the emperor jones paul robeson. He used his artistry and celebrity to champion human rights and fight for world peace when it was dangerous to do so. The complete emi sessions 19281939 by paul robeson on your phone, computer and home audio system with napster.
Tribute to an artist won an academy award for best short documentary in 1980. Tribute to an artist sanders of the river jericho the proud valley native land the criterion collection. Robeson saw singing and acting as a part of political campaigning after a visit to germany and the ussr in 1934. The artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. He was the first american artist, black or white, to realize that the role of the artist extends far beyond the stage and the. 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. Unlike many paul robeson collections of recordings that have been licensed or otherwise obtained and reissued by small labels, this one comes from emi and purports to be a collection of his greatest hits. Upon graduating from rutgers at the head of his class, he rejected a career as a. Sep, 2011 paul leroy robeson was born in 1898, the son of a runaway slave, william drew robeson. The artist as revolutionary revolutionary lives horne, gerald. 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. The artist as revolutionary, his biography of actor, singer, and activist, paul robeson.
Paul robeson performing arts company presentsa tribute to. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces his career through his activism. More importantly the film transfer itself is horrific. Some of robesons early recordings include songs which he would not wish people to hear today. He was perhaps most groundbreaking, however, in the medium of film. In a relatively short book, horne has captured the essence of paul robeson as both a domestic leader for african american equality, as well as an international icon promoting decolonization and. With sidney poitier, paul robeson, margaret webster.
Complete list of paul robeson music featured in tv shows and movies. A tribute to paul robeson soas university of london. Pdf in 1949 paul robeson with support from pete seeger, woodie guthrie, howard fast, and others attempted to and then successfully. Paul robeson, in full paul bustill robeson, born april 9, 1898, princeton, n. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards for documentary short subject.
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. Tribute to an artist 1979 the criterion collection. His german was fluent, which came in handy when he was menaced by. See more ideas about black history, renaissance men and african american history. Visit tunefind for music from your favorite tv shows and movies. Tribute to an artist, narrated by sidney poitier, traces the career of paul robeson through his activism and his socially charged performances of his signature song, ol man river. Recordings will be heard by this american bass and civil rights activist who openly supported the spanish civil war, gave concerts in the soviet union and was blacklisted during the mccarthy era. The son of an escaped slave, robeson managed to become a topbilled movie star during the time of jim crow america, headlining everything. 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. Paul leroy bustill robeson 9 april 1898 23 january 1976 was an american actor of film and stage, allamerican and professional athlete, writer, multilingual orator, lawyer, and basso profondo concert singer who was also noted for his wideranging social justice activism. In 1995, he was named to the college football hall of fame. Paul leroy robeson was born in 1898, the son of a runaway slave, william drew robeson. Paul robeson american singer, actor, and political.
Education was of paramount importance to the robeson family, one son became a. As a singer, robeson s deep and powerful voice demanded attention when he sang traditional africanamerican folk songs and spirituals, accompanied by orchestra from the 20s onward. A sweet tribute documentary to paul robeson, narrated with love by sidney poitier. Medley part 2, deep river, ma curly headed baby, carry me back to green pastures, old folks at home. Turells academy awardwinning documentary short paul robeson. This 1979 oscarwinning documentary recalls the life of paul robeson 18981976athlete, actor, singer and political activist. After eslandas death in 1965, the artist lived with his sister. At the time, london was a rallying point for african and caribbean intellectuals and anti. The dimensions of his talent made him our renaissance man.
Tribute to an artist is a 1979 american short documentary film directed by saul j. All paul robeson artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30day moneyback guarantee. Turells academy award winning documentary short paul robeson. Freedomways salute to paul robeson x3 documentary on paul robeson. Hes also, i hope, beloved for his work as a leading political activist for both communist and problack causes. Paul robeson, the singer, actor and black activist, died yesterday at the age of 77 in philadelphia. Paul robeson 1898 1976 was an american actor, athlete, singer, writer, civil rights activist, and a great. Robeson is remembered today as a great actor and singer for both broadway stage and hollywood screen. Paul robeson was an american born musician, most famous for his political views. Shop for paul robeson art from the worlds greatest living artists. Allamerican athlete, scholar, renowned baritone, stage actor, and social activist, paul robeson 18981976 was a towering figure and a trailblazer many times over. This academy awardwinning halfhour documentary was directed and written by saul j. An examination of the life of actor and singer paul robeson, from his first major triumphs on the stage in the 1920s through his gradually increasing social activism in the 1930s and 1940s, leading to his controversial performances in eastern europe in the 1940s in which he performed communist anthems and. Paul robesonactivist, artist, athleteexperienced a dramatic rise and fall.
Jan 24, 1976 paul robeson, the singer, actor and black activist, died yesterday at the age of 77 in philadelphia. Choose your favorite paul robeson designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more. His granddaughter, susan robeson, talks about his vision of world peace and his relevance today in a multimedia presentation. In 1980, it won an oscar at the 52nd academy awards. Paul robeson was indeed more than an artist, activist and freedom fighter. What paul robeson said history smithsonian magazine. Paul robeson, the artist as activist and social thinker. Paul leroy robeson was born the youngest of seven children on april 9, 1898, in princeton, new jersey. Here i stand pbs american masters 1999 writings by paul robeson. Dec 06, 2007 here is a famous song performed live in moscow in 1949 by the legendary paul robeson. Turell, narrated by actor sidney poitier and originally distributed by janus films. Educated at rutgers college and columbia university, he was also a star athlete in his youth. And as a writer and speaker, he was a vital force in the promotion of equality and freedom in america.
At the time, london was a rallying point for african and caribbean intellectuals and anticolonial movements. Robesons father was born into slavery, but he escaped at the age of 15 and eventually studied theology and became a preacher. He grew up in princeton, new jersey, where he gained fame as one of the greatest football players ever. In a relatively short book, horne has captured the essence of paul robeson as both a domestic leader for african american equality, as well as an international icon promoting decolonization and socialism on a world stage. Here is a famous song performed live in moscow in 1949 by the legendary paul robeson. This academy awardwinning documentary short paul robeson. Sep 20, 2006 robeson first came to london in the 1920s, where he lived with his wife eslanda essie cardoza goode from 1928 to 1939. As his family moved to europe, he grew up in england visiting the st marys town and country school in london and moscow, in the soviet. An examination of the life of actor and singer paul robeson, from his first major triumphs on the stage in the 1920s through his gradually increasing social activism in the 1930s and 1940s, leading to his controversial performances in eastern europe in the 1940s in which he. Robeson and his family returned to the united states in 1963. Paul robeson american singer, actor, and political activist. Featured performance partners include prpac alums, syracuse community choir and dance theater of syracuse, many of the communitys finest vocalists, actors, dancers and. November 2, 1927 april 26, 2014 was an american author, archivist and historian.
Among the songs will be spirituals and selections from jerome kerns showboat in which robeson sang in the london premiere. Education was of paramount importance to the robeson family, one son became a physician, and the daughter was a teacher. Robeson first came to london in the 1920s, where he lived with his wife eslanda essie cardoza goode from 1928 to 1939. 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.
Biography, bach discography and photos of the artist. Robeson died from a stroke on january 23, 1976, at the age of 77, in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Paul robeson was pure genius, endowed with more talent than any man had a right to have. Horne has made an amazing contribution to african american radical history with the newly published biography paul robeson. 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. He was a communist, and sang the english version of the national anthem of the soviet union. Robeson reminds the world that all performers must get involved.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. His mother, of mixed african, cherokee, and caucasian ancestry, was a teacher. Wilson, fredi washington, ruby elzy, george haymid stamper, brandon evans, taylor gordon, billie. January 23, 1976 philadelphia, usa paul bustill robeson was a famous africanamerican athlete, singer, actor, and advocate for the civil rights of people around the world. Medley part 1, lazy bones, fat lil feller, scarecrow, wagon wheels b. He also spoke about his book confronting black jacobins. Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bassbaritone voice. Robeson was born in brooklyn to entertainer and activist paul robeson and eslanda goode robeson. Portraits of the artist may be the only way to understand him.
For historical reasons, our goal is to list all recordings by or about paul robeson that are currently available. Were sorry but jwapp doesnt work properly without javascript enabled. Tribute to an artist sanders of the river jericho the proud valley. Welk music group, 1299 ocean avenue, santa monica, ca 90401.