Paul robeson, son of a minister and exslave, was bigger than life in every way. 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 made between 1928 and 1939, starting with his signature song, ol man river. Ol man river jerome kern oscar hammerstein ii lyrics from the original libretto. Jan 01, 20 paul robeson, son of a minister and exslave, was bigger than life in every way. A man of great conviction and dignity he was always a model to his son he worked his way to lincoln university in pennsylvania, and later to the pulpit. Louis blues, all through the night, song of the volga boatman, and dear old southland. Ol man river, dat ol man river he musknow sumpin but dont say nuthin, he jeskeeps rollin he keeps on rollin along. Paul robeson ol man river vinyl records, lp, cd on cdandlp. She died in a house fire when paul was six years old. I get weary and so sick of tryin im tired of livin, and afraid of dyin but old man river, he just keeps rollin a. I remember this big black man in a beret, his deep resonant voice, his power of presentation. Albums include ol man river ah still suits me, spirituals, and songs of.
He had mana and he was banned in the 1950s from leaving the united states. Watch the video for ol man river from paul robesons legends of the 20th century for. It is his understanding that gives old man river an epic lift. Paul robeson arts and humanities flashcards quizlet. Print and download ol man river sheet music by paul robeson arranged for piano. Paul robeson 1 paul robeson 18981976 do you know why bugs bunny got his picture on a stamp and he didnt. According to the paul robeson foundation, robesons father possessed a rich bass speaking voice and an air of surpassing dignity. Ol man river was a symbol of the life of the south, where the female protagonist, magnolia, is from and in both the original and film adaptations, it was sang by joe, who is an african american sailor on the family showboat, cotton blossom. Adobe garamond 35 ll akkurat 65 akzidenzgrotesk 235. If ever there was an human embodiment of the traits i most value in an artist and human communication, fearlessness, skill, an open heart, a brilliant mind, hard work, and a deep sense of service it was robeson.
Em what does he care if am the land d7 aint free g. Albums include ol man river ah still suits me, spirituals, and songs of free men. Paul robeson the complete emi sessions 19281939 by kern, jerome, johnson, on cd. Best version of old man river william warfield youtube. Get a little drunk is changed to show a little grit.
Ol man river was composed by jerome kern for show boat 1927, a musical based on edna ferbers read more. Old man river, he just keeps rollin along you know, you know he dont plant taters. Paul robesons mother, maria louisa bustill, died when he was six years old. Old man river, that old man river he must know sumpin but dont say nuthin, he just keeps rollin he keeps on rollin along. His understanding must have referred to robesons experience and empathy as a black man concerned with justice. How paul robeson found his political voice in the welsh. At somerville high school, paul excelled in academics, acting, singing and sports. Check out old man river by paul robeson on amazon music. G ol man c river, that g ol man c river, he g dont say c nothin, but he g must know c somethin, he d just keeps d7 rollin, he d keeps on d7. He dont plant taters, he dont plant cotton, and them that plants em is soon forgotten. People typically know him for only one, if any, of the major successes of his life. Ol man river chords by paul robeson songsterr tabs with rhythm. His 1928 recording of ol man river has become for many the definitive version of the song.
According to the paul robeson foundation, robeson s father possessed a rich bass speaking voice and an air of surpassing dignity. From the album live at carnegie hall january 1, 2006. Paul robeson the complete emi sessions 19281939 emi. 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. From showboats 2nd version 1936 paul robeson ol man river ol man river jerome kern oscar hammerstein ii lyrics from the. Paul robeson, born april 9, 1898, found similar power in one of his standards. He don plant taters, he dont plant cotton, an dem dat plant em. Ol man river has been performed many times as a standard. Paul robeson ol man river sheet music piano solo in c.
This is a valuable piece of american history and its too bad the ultimate paul robeson couldnt have been recorded in latter decades with more modern equipment and arrangements. 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. Ah yee oh koe, yae guh deh ah yee oh koe, yae guh deh the current swings the water sings a river rhyme for light is the burden of labor. But his radicalism was spurred on in britain by a chance meeting with a group of welsh miners. Ol man river was composed by jerome kern for show boat 1927, a musical based on edna ferbers 1926 novel. Ol man river is a show tune from the 1927 musical show boat that contrasts the struggles and. A second version, by paul whiteman with bass singer paul robeson on vocals and sung in a dance. Influences on paul robeson paul robeson was most deeply influenced by his father, a man who had escaped slavery and made a name for himself as a minister. Watch the video for ol man river from paul robeson s legends of the 20th century for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. African american star robeson built his singing career in the teeth of racism in the early 1900s. Ol man river dat ol man river he mus know sumpin but dont say nuthin, he jes keeps rollin he keeps on rollin along. See more ideas about black history, renaissance men and african american history. Its the 75th anniversary of paul robesons powerful. Nov 07, 2014 five killer versions of the best show tune ever.
Pauls father moved the five robeson children to westfield and later to somerville. The very best of paul robeson by paul robeson on amazon music. The premier site for the history and analysis of the standards jazz musicians play the most. Educated at rutgers college and columbia university, he was also a star athlete in his youth. Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his. For the final song of the day of my week here at nyfos, let me introduce you to the reason i became a singer. Em what does he care if the worlds got am troubles. Beginning about 1938, and continuing on to the end of his career, paul robeson changed a few of the lyrics of ol man river when singing it at recitals, though never in actual stage performances of show boat, and not in the 1936 film version. Jul 02, 2017 african american star robeson built his singing career in the teeth of racism in the early 1900s. Old man river, sung by paul robeson no song is safe from us. Jun 03, 2016 for the final song of the day of my week here at nyfos, let me introduce you to the reason i became a singer. 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 robeson s studio recordings made between 1928 and 1939, starting with his signature song, ol man river. Or to be more specific, two versions of the same song, as performed by the same artist, two decades apart. From showboats 2nd version 1936 paul robeson ol man river.
Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bassbaritone voice. Jan 01, 2006 check out old man river by paul robeson on amazon music. And yet, paul robeson remains virtually unknown by millions of educated americans. The paul robesonjackie robinson saga and a political collision. Watch the video for ol man river from paul robesons legends of the 20th century for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. Ppt paul robeson powerpoint presentation free to download. An american masterpiece nprs scott simon and cultural commentator murray horowitz reflect on the impact of ol man river. Robeson and jim crow paul robeson was born the same decade that baseball, then the unquestioned national pastime, rid itself of all blacks playing the professional game. Shop 47 records for sale for album ol man river by paul robeson on cdandlp in vinyl and cd format. Paul robeson was more than a hero no way but this by jeff sparrow scribe, melbourne, 2017, 291 pp paul robeson sang to workers on the sydney opera house site in 1960. The father of nine children, he was fiftythree years old when paul was born. Ol man river can be interpreted as a passive, accepting song, but its sadness can also be heard as a protest. This is a bit of a longer post than usual, so this week im providing two songs for the price of one.
Shellac 10 paul robeson my old kentucky home ol man river shellac discogs. He dedicated it to paul robeson, though robeson didnt accept the role as. The paul robesonjackie robinson saga and a political. At about the same time, the league of american wheelmen, a key amateur bicycle association, inserted a whitesonly clause in its constitution. Oct 28, 2008 from showboats 2nd version 1936 paul robeson ol man river. Jazz standards songs and instrumentals ol man river. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. In a 1927 recording of ol man river, robeson had sung the lyrics as they were originally written by hammerstein, lyrics that included the lines, niggers all work. Paul robeson s mother, maria louisa bustill, died when he was six years old. Paul robeson my old kentucky home ol man river discogs.
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