- Seventy-Fifth Birthday Tribute to Curtis Mayfield
- The National Gallery in Washington DC has a lot going on - and it is not just tourists looking at the art on the walls. There is a lively music program throughout the year - and here is an example of what is happening. There is a birthday celebration for Curtis Mayfield, who would have been 75 this year. The singer, writer, and producer will be celebrated with music and film on December 17 at the East Building of the National Gallery beginning at 11 am.
- Curtis Mayfield is usually remembered for performing the funky soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation movie, Superfly. The album is considered one of R&B’s landmark discs, and Mayfield became an influence on many later soul, rock, and R&B musicians. Curtis Mayfield was a composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist: he played guitar, piano, saxophone, bass and drums.
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He dropped out of high school in the 1950s and soon enough formed The Impressions, which became a leading 1960s soul group. Mayfield lead the group until 1970, when he went solo. Mayfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: as an individual performer (inducted in 1999) and as the leader of The Impressions (inducted 1991).
After leaving the Impressions in 1970 in the pursuit of a solo career, Mayfield released several albums, including the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film Super Fly in 1972. The soundtrack was noted for its socially conscious themes, mostly addressing problems surrounding inner city minorities such as crime, poverty and drug abuse. The album was ranked at no. 72 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[5]
Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down after lighting equipment fell on him during a live performance at Wingate Field in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, on August 13, 1990. Despite this, he continued his career as a recording artist, releasing his final album New World Order in 1996. Mayfield won a Grammy Legend Award in 1994 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995, and was a double inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of the Impressions in 1991, and again in 1999 as a solo artist. He was also a two-time Grammy Hall of Fame inductee. He died from complications of type 2 diabetes in 1999 at the age of 57.
11:00-12:30
Remarks will be presented by Aaron Cohen, music critic, humanities professor at Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago, and author of the forthcoming Move On Up: Chicago Soul Music And Black Cultural Power.
Move On Up looks at the social, cultural, and political changes that shaped soul music in Chicago during the 1960s and 1970s and how musicians themselves were often agents of those very changes. As a singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and entrepreneur, Curtis Mayfield stood at the center of this movement. During Cohen's presentation, he will read excerpts from his book that describe Mayfield's working methods and his influence.
Curtis Mayfield music presented by DJ Jahsonic
12:30-1:30
BREAK
1:30
Film screening of Urban Soul
Ghanaian British filmmaker John Akomfrah's work asks audiences to engage with colonialism and the African diaspora through memory and montage, creating meaning by connecting history with lived experience. Across exhibition contexts, in gallery settings through immersive multichannel installations, and also in the cinema space, Akomfrah is a leading voice in contemporary time-based media art. Akomfrah's work for screen and television includes sixteen single-channel films from the influential Black Audio Film Collective (BAFC) and newer works by the present iteration of the collective, known as Smoking Dogs Films. Over the years, Akomfrah and his partners have been commissioned by many television channels, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, to produce original programming. An example of Smoking Dogs Films’ work made for broadcast, Urban Soul , uses a pop culture subject—the phenomenon of R&B—as criteria to investigate deeper themes of corporate corruption and greed.
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor
Good morning, Lise... this sounds like it would be a great event to attend, especially given the National Gallery venue.
Dec 12, 2017 06:05 AM
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Debb Janes
Camas, WA
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC
Thanks so much for stopping by this morning Nina Hollander - The National Gallery is very broad in its interests and offerings - there truly is something for everyone and more people should visit!
Dec 12, 2017 06:24 AM
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ
Hmm, I have never heard of him, but enjoyed learning. I agree with Nina Hollander , it sounds like a really fun event.
Dec 12, 2017 06:27 AM
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker
Good morning Lise Howe
Thank you for sharing your information with us at Active Rain.
Have a great day 12/12/2017.
Dec 12, 2017 07:03 AM
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Anthony Acosta - ALLAT...
Atlanta, GA
Aloha Group Maui - Lahaina, HI
The smarter we work, the luckier you get.
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!
Hello Lise Howe I knew the name but not much about the artist. Thank you for the background on this talented man.
Dec 12, 2017 08:40 PM
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR
Morning Lise.
Sounds like a fun filled event. Sad thing is I can remember watching them on the old black & white TV. Dang I'm showing my age.
Dec 13, 2017 12:26 AM
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You
Thanks for sharing information about Curtis Mayfield - this would be an interesting event to attend. Will you be going, Lise?
Dec 17, 2017 06:53 AM
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Thank you for sharing.
I just stopped by to wish you and your family Happy New Year.
Dec 28, 2017 04:40 AM
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents
Thank you for the heads up today and private message, i got it fixed. Have a good Friday Lise Howe
Dec 29, 2017 05:23 AM
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives
Lise Howe - What a great tribute to a great artist. He never let bad luck get in the way of his success. Listening to his music on "A New World Order" now thanks to you! Curtis Mayfield deserves to go down in music history!
Dec 29, 2017 05:25 AM
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
What a wonderful tribute, Lise! There is simply something for everyone in your area, isn't there?! This is one that I would have like to have attended.
You know, one of our friends had an accident, rendering him a quadriplegic also and he was into recording and had a studio in his inner-city basement. After his accident, friends joined in to make his studio accessible so that he could continue following his passion. He died about 10 years ago and it broke my heart to see his home sold and his recording studio turned back into a 'normal' basement!
I hope you and yours have a wonderful New Year, Lise!
Dec 29, 2017 06:19 AM
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD
I hope you are enjoying a very productive monnth.
Best wishes to you and your family for a Very Happy New Year!
Dec 31, 2017 12:22 PM
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!
Wishing you and yours a safe and Happy New Year's Eve!
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale
Lise, I love that this area has something for everyone. There's no shortage of things to do. Just stopped by to wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy new year. May it be your best year yet!
Jan 01, 2018 06:13 AM
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate
Good morning Lise. Thanks for the history of Curtis Mayfield. I knew the name but not the full story.
Jan 04, 2018 05:38 AM
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848
What a nice event Lise! I imagine one of the perks of living in your area is having so many wonderful things to do!
Feb 08, 2018 06:34 AM
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