THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE - Music

Duke EllingtonLouis “Satchamo” ArmstrongBillie HolidayElla FitzgeraldBessie Smith

Duke Ellington (1899-1974)

•Orchestra leader•Pianist•Jazz pioneer•Movie star

Take the “A” TrainTake the A Train Big Band JazzYou must take the "A" trainTo go to Sugar Hill, way up in HarlemIf you miss the "A" trainYou'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem

Hurry, get on, now it's comingListen to those rails a-thrumming all aboardGet on the "A" trainSoon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem

You must take the "A" trainTo go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem

You must take the "A" trainTo go to Sugar Hill, way up in HarlemIf you miss the "A" trainYou'll miss the quickest way to Harlem

Hurry, get on board, it's comin'Listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboardGet on the "A" trainSoon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem

Harlem, boyNext stop is Harlem

Next stop, HarlemCome on, get aboard the "A" train

Get aboardNext stop is HarlemTake the "A" train

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY

Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (1900-1971)

•Trumpeter•Bandleader•Soloist•Film star •Comedian

What a Wonderful WorldI see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom, for me and you. And I think to myself,what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue, And clouds of white. The bright blessed day, The dark sacred night. And I think to myself, What a wonderful world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM

The colors of the rainbow, So pretty in the sky. Are also on the faces, Of people going by, I see friends shaking hands. Saying, "How do you do?" They're really saying, "I love you".

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow, They'll learn much more, Than I'll ever know. And I think to myself, What a wonderful world.

Yes, I think to myself, What a wonderful world.

Oh yeah.

Billie Holiday (1914-1959)

•Blues singer•Blues writer•Movie inspiration:

Lady’s Sings the Blues

Strange Fruit

Southern trees bear a strange fruitBlood on the leaves and blood at the rootBlack bodies swingin' in the Southern breezeStrange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant SouthThe bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouthScent of magnolias sweet and freshThen the sudden smell of burnin' flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluckFor the rain to gather, for the wind to suckFor the sun to rot, for the tree to dropHere is a strange and bitter crop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs&list=PLA446B20AD17FA25D

Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996)

•Singer•Queen of Jazz•Apollo performer•Scat singer

How High the MoonSomewhere there's musicHow faint the tuneSomewhere there's heavenHow high the moon

There is no moon aboveWhen love is far away tooTill it comes trueThat you love me as I love you

Somewhere there's musicIt's where you areSomewhere there's heavenHow near, how far

The darkest night would shineIf you would come to me soonUntil you will, how still my heartHow high the moon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cHYXaMCCIo

'How high the moon'Is the name of the songHow high the moon

Though the words may be wrongWe're singing it because you ask for itSo we're singing it just for you

How high the moonDoes it touch the starsHow high the moonDoes it reach out to Mars

Though the words may be wrong to the songWe're asking a high, high, high, highHigh is the moon

Though the words may be wrong to the songWe're ought to make high, high, high, highHigh is the moon

Bessie Smith (1894-1937)

•Blues singer•Jazz singer•Actress•Highest paid performer of her era•Inspired Janice Joplin

Black Mountain BluesOut in Black Mountain a child will smack your face.I'm saying out on Black Mountain a child will smack your face.The babies cryin' for liquor, and all the birds sing bass.Well, those people in Black Mountain are bad as they can be.And those people in Black Mountain are bad as they can be.Now they uses gun powder just to sweeten up their tea.Well, out in Black Mountain you can't keep a good man in jail.Yeah, out in Black Mountain you can't keep a good man in jail'Cause if the jury convicts him, the judge will pay his bail.I had a man in Black Mountain, the sweetest man in town.I had a man in Black Mountain, the sweetest man in the town.But then he met a city gal, that's when he throwed me down.Lord, I'm bound for Black Mountain, me and my razor and my gun,I'm going back to Black Mountain, me and my razor and my gun.I'm gonna fire him if he stands still, I'll just cut him if he runs.Lord, now you've heard my story, now you've heard my news.Lord, now you've heard my story, now you've heard my news.Now my man can clear off, I've got the Blackest Mountain blues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Lf8FVY99o