Soul! EP 55 (413)
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Show opens on CU of Bill Withers singing opening verse of "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone". Zoom out, dissolve to poet Mae Jackson reciting short poem.
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Soul! funky, opening title sequence. Announcer Gerry Bledsoe introduces guests over opening credits: Bill Withers, with Bernorce Blackman - Guitar, Melvin Dunlap - Bass, James Gadson - Drums; Mike Stokes - piano; "poetess" Mae Jackson; Mc Coy Tyner Quartet with McCoy Tyner - Piano; Sonny Fortune - Reeds, Calvin Hill - bass, Al Mouzon - drums. Bledsoe introduces show host, producer Ellis Haizlip.
Soul! EP 55 (413)
MS Haizlip seated, introduces himself and references the previous two shows (conversation between Nikki Giovanni and James Baldwin). He quotes a statement Baldwin made about how the black experience in America has been communicated and handed down through words, music and song and how tonight's show is yet another demonstration of that ability. He introduces each artist - CU of each one as he describes them: poet Mae Jackson as a poet of "essential and celestial strength", Bill Withers, a "master of an art that is down to earth, for real and what we are all about as a people", and the McCoy Tyner quartet - "4 exciting interpreters of the black experience".
Soul! EP 55 (413)
CU McCoy Tyner at piano with small flute or piccolo -quartet plays. Tyner switches to piano. Good shots throughout performance: MS of individual and pairs of musicians. WS of quartet, Zooms in and out to and from musicians playing. CUs during solos.
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Cam pans over to MS Mae Jackson, seated. She recites several poems (not yet identified).
Soul! EP 55 (413)
FOR FULL PERFORMANCE WITH AUDIO, PLEASE CONTACT WPA. Bill Withers performs "I'm Her Daddy", "Ain't No Sunshine" (live). VS Bill Withers seated, playing guitar. Backing band is mostly in darkness.
Soul! EP 55 (413)
MS audience shot - 3 young girls in audience - about 12 years old. Diss to Cu of Mae Jackson reciting poem (not yet identified).
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Cam pans to Ellis Haizlip, seated as Bill Withers approaches and sits with him to be interviewed. Haizlip thanks Mae Jackson and then interviews Withers. Withers explains that his from Slab Fork West Virginia and wasn't really interested in music while growing up. Was interested in getting out of his town. Wasn't interested in music until he was 30 years old. Explains that when he first recorded he was allowed to do what he wanted to do which wasn't how things typically happened. Credits Booker T with helping him get his record made. Talks about how he shopped his record around Hollywood first but they wanted to change it so he left. Leads to discussion about he work he did for Boeing, making and installing toilets on 747 airplanes - says that he installed cameras on those toilets. They discuss whether that is a greater revolutionary act that Withers' singing. Withers states "I don't have any education other than the kind you get just walkin' around". Talks about his approach to singing - that he wanted to say something that hadn't been said before. Ellis mentions "Grandma's Hands" and "Saturday Night in Harlem" as outlining the black experience, and asks about future recordings. Withers states that his latest record "Still Bill" will be out in about a week. Ellis asks him about his future, Withers replies that he's "having fun" with what he's doing, not letting anyone "dress me up - put me into uniforms...I keep it at a very personal level where it's fun."..." We try to keep it soft and loose and kinda for real - I'm sick and tired of people singing 'I love you' with both arms up in the air." Ellis asks why he talks before his songs, comments that 'the rap' is pure poetry. Withers says he just does it - likes to relate to everybody there. Ellis asks how much his upbringing affects his songwriting, Withers answers that the kind of person that you are has an influence on everything you do . He elaborates on that, Ellis wraps up interview, and introduces McCoy Tyner Quartet again.
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Ellis Haizlip introduces the McCoy Tyner Quartet. MS Tyner at Piano, plays solo for about 3 minutes, then rest of the group joins in. Good close shots of individual and pairs of musicians. Each gets to solo.
Soul! EP 55 (413)
MS audience clapping, dissolves to Ellis Haizlip. He introduces Mae Jackson again, says Bill Withers will performs again and credits the still photographs in the show (during performance of "Grandma's Hands" to Chester Higgins Jr. Cam pans to Mae Jackson. She recites poem (not yet identified).
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Bill Withers introduces, performs "Grandma's Hands." (DO NOT USE montage of black and white still photographs by Chester Higgins, Jr.)
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Bill Withers performs "Grits Ain't Groceries'
Soul! EP 55 (413)
Bill Withers performs "Saturday Nights in Harlem." Closing credits over song, fades out.