billy taylor

Before You Go co-host Nicole Franklin has the honor of inviting her longtime friend  Juanita Smith who shares memories of her composer husband Hale Smith with Bryant Monteilh and the audience. It's a walk through musical history as Hale Smith's work in the genres of classical, jazz and spirituals brought him, Juanita and their family from Cleveland, Ohio to New York City. 

Upon arriving in NYC, Juanita quickly found work at the United Nations and Hale was surrounded by a nucleus of talent which included Kathleen Battle, Randy Weston, Melba Liston, Dizzy Gillespie, Ron Carter, Ahmad Jamal and more.  Juanita is now the publisher of her late husband's spiritual arrangements and because of her impeccable memory, her stories are filled with evidentiary facts and fascinating encounters. 

This episode originally aired on KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles.

The music of Hale Smith heard in this episode may be found here:
 

1) This Little Light Of Mine"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUd7RMPQAxU

Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America This Little Light of Mine (arr. H. Smith) · Icy Rene Simpson I, too ℗ 2012 Longhorn Music Released on: 2012-08-07 Artist: Icy Rene Simpson Artist: Artina McCain Composer: Hale Smith Composer: Traditional
 

2) "Contours" Hale Smith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t1YYuz7DV4&t=83s
 

Hale Smith (1925-2009): Contours, for Orchestra (1960) --- The Louisville Orchestra diretta da Robert Whitney 
 

3) Bess, You is My Woman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Panv8OJjgHk
 

"Bess, You Is My Woman" From the Opera, "Porgy and Bess" Music by George Gershwin Lyrics by Du Bose Heyward and Ira Gershwin Featuring Todd Duncan and Anne Brown Accompanied by the Decca Symphony Orchestra Directed by Alexander Smallens Recorded May 15, 1940 Decca 29069A

 

4) I Love Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8NQgqYoVQ
 

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group I Love Music · Ahmad Jamal Trio The Awakening ℗ 1970 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Released on: 1997-01-01 Producer: Ed Michel Composer: Emil Boyd Composer: Hale Smith 
 

5) I Want to Die Easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94EwXQTKrlY
 

Anthony Anderson- Baritone 

Michael Crabill- Piano

 

6) I Love Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFk5lKLHMw8

From Hale Smith's tribute concert. T.K. Blue, Saxophone & Flute Carlton Holmes, Piano Corcoran Holt, Bass Alvin Atkinson, Drums Benny Powell, Trombone