1973
This premier episode highlights the musical groups Nite-Lighters and New Birth. Rev James Cleveland Choir performs gospel sets. Maxine Weldone sings two Broadway songs. James Earl Jones interviews, sports figures Jim Brown and Ray Mays. Actor, dancer Paula Kelly is interviewed about her support of a cultural dance center in Watts and finally, Arnold Dover makes his television debut as a stand-up comedian.
Fri, Apr 27, 1973
Alan Weeks, singer, actor, and later director and choreographer, opens the show with a strong performance of a pivotal scene from the musical "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope". Marking his first television premiere before his network debut on "The Flip Wilson Show" in 1973, Franklin Ajaye, of later "Car Wash" fame, tries out his stand-up comedic talents. Musical guests include blues violinist Papa John Creach, and singer Ester Philips. Mr. Jones interviews actor Ron O'Neil of "Superfly" movie fame, and editor and director Hugh Robertson on the controversy of "super black heroes" and their influence on the black community and future films. The show is closed out by singer Hannah Dee, accompanied by a chorus from the cast of "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope".
Sun, Dec 31, 1972
Marshall Texas native Shadrach, son of a preacher, has his premier television debut, opening the show with his polished vocal and piano performances. Perhaps in his final television appearance, 86-year-old, legendary ragtime piano composer Eubie Blake shares his piano playing skills and colorful life in a delightful, must-see interview with James Earl Jones. This was followed by a performance of a new family vocal R&B and disco group, "The Sylvers" performing their newest hit songs. "Goldfinger" (later known as "Goldfinger and Dove") is introduced to an eager young audience, wowing them with illusions and prestidigitation skills. Shadrach returns for another set and the well-respected pianist and jazz vocalist Carmen McRae turns in a solid performance to end the show on a stirring high note.
1973
The theme for this show is black women. Lou Rawls, the baritone-voiced, world-renowned singer, and three-time Grammy-winner is the program's opening act. Paula Kelly, actress, singer, and dancer returns to Black Omnibus singing a song made famous by Billie Holiday, following up with a moving, interpretive dance duet with a male partner. Mr. Jones leads a discussion of the intersection of race and gender with two prominent black women of the time, Althea Gibson, tennis star, professional golfer, and Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, the first black woman to represent the west coast in Congress. In one of his first television appearances, Luther Ingram performs the most popular song he is known for today: "If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be Right". Actress, poet, playwright, and author Beah Richards shares a verse performance piece she wrote, "A Black Woman Speaks". Oscar Brown Jr., actor, singer, songwriter, poet, and civil rights activist and Jean Pace (older sister of actress Judy Pace, later wife of Oscar Brown, Jr.) closes out the show performing a moving, biting riposte on slave auctions with his song "Bid 'Em In".
1973
A dynamic, high-energy vocal and instrumental set named "Son of Shaft", performed by the "Bar-Kays", opens show number six. Mr. Jones interviews football player Gene Washington and basketball star Jim McMillian about their thoughts and expectations of black athletes by the day's society. Sondra "Binky" Williams debuts her singing talent with a rendition of Bill Wither's song, "Grandma's Hands". The Crusaders (formerly "The Jazz Crusaders"), a jazz-funk style group, performs an instrumental set. A very young Paul Mooney, long before writing Richard Prior's routines on Saturday Night Live and his later social criticisms, debuts in his first television appearance as a stand-up comedian. The "Bar-Kays" return with their performance of "America". Mr. Jones interviews Mr. Rozzell Sykes, artist, founder, and director of "Saint Elmo's Village". "Saint Elmo's Village" mission is to create a space where children and adults could explore their creativity outside the structures of the mainstream art world. Mr. Jones continues the interview by asking a few of the children questions of their creations and thoughts of St. Elmo's Village. Ms. Williams returns to close the program with Billie Holiday's song, "God Bless the Child."
1973
Performers and performance for this show are centered on the theme of 'young, gifted, and black.' Odetta (Odetta Holmes), a folk singer and lyricist opens with a song entitled 'Keep On Movin' On'. A trio of young black musicians performs a jazz set under the name 'The Beatrice Wimby Russian Trio. This is followed by a vocal performance by a 12-year-old Jackie Wilson protégé, 'Little Dion' (Dion Overstreet), singing Stevie Wonder's hit song 'Very Superstitious'. Oddly, the next two performances do not seem to fit into the program's overall theme. The Spinners, from Detroit, Michigan perform their hit song, 'Could It Be I'm Falling In Love'. Odetta returns with a powerfully executed blues-folk song written by Rev. Robert Wilkins, named 'Rolling Stone'. The next performance scene shows several young black boys hanging in the neighborhood playing 'the dozens'. This serves as an intro into a discussion led by Mr. Jones with psychiatrists, Drs. William H. Grier and Alvin F. Poussaint about the historical origins and use of 'the dozens' as well as general mental health issues within African-American life. 'Little Dion' returns with Bill Wither's song "Use Me" and Mr. Jones closes the show with hope for the future of our 'black seeds.'