I was in New York a few weeks ago and saw Memphis the Musical on Broadway. Based loosely on the story of a white DJ Dewey Phillips who helped bring black RnB into the mainstream and most famously was the first to break an Elvis Presley record on the radio. His on-air persona was described as "a speed-crazed hillbilly" I am sure many on here know of him but if you don't you may be interested to read more about him here:
Set in the early 1950's, the musical itself was very enjoyable from a song and dance perspective but also gave a good insight into the massive prejudice against Black musicians and reflects many of the topics here on Soul Source about the origins of Soul music etc. Essentially it tells the story of a white guy who loved black music and subsequently a black lady singer. He eventually becomes a famous DJ against the odds and she is signed by a major label. I wont try to tell the story as the links below do a much better job than I can. If ever it hits these shores I think many soulies would find it interesting not least because of the white guy loves black music theme but due to a fantastic solo acrobatic dance routine by one of the leading characters, the up tempo nature of the show and a number of good/OK songs such as:
I was in New York a few weeks ago and saw Memphis the Musical on Broadway. Based loosely on the story of a white DJ Dewey Phillips who helped bring black RnB into the mainstream and most famously was the first to break an Elvis Presley record on the radio. His on-air persona was described as "a speed-crazed hillbilly" I am sure many on here know of him but if you don't you may be interested to read more about him here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Phillips
https://www.mikesmemphistours.com/uselater/DeweyPhillips.html
Set in the early 1950's, the musical itself was very enjoyable from a song and dance perspective but also gave a good insight into the massive prejudice against Black musicians and reflects many of the topics here on Soul Source about the origins of Soul music etc. Essentially it tells the story of a white guy who loved black music and subsequently a black lady singer. He eventually becomes a famous DJ against the odds and she is signed by a major label. I wont try to tell the story as the links below do a much better job than I can. If ever it hits these shores I think many soulies would find it interesting not least because of the white guy loves black music theme but due to a fantastic solo acrobatic dance routine by one of the leading characters, the up tempo nature of the show and a number of good/OK songs such as:
Underground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAKe_sgV9_g&feature=related
Steal Your Rock n Roll
Some Day
Colored Woman:
Everybody wants to be black on a Saturday night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze22fN1fwcM&feature=related
Some of the lyrics could have been written for Soul lovers. Such as:
The Music Of My Soul lyrics
[...]
But I heard it through the alleys
It floated on the breeze
It burst out through the doorways
And it knocked me to my knees
It broke down all of my senses
And made me feel so home
See I was lost but now I found
The music of my soul
The music of my soul
About Memphis the Musical
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_%28musical%29
https://www.memphismagazine.com/Memphis-Magazine/September-2011/Memphis-Meets-Broadway/
Edited by brummiemick