Jamaican Folk Revue, Lucille Ranger-Brown, and Caribbean Singers at "A Cultural Extravaganza." The Extravaganza was part of the week long Jamaican celebration of their 23rd year of independence called “Independence '85 Jamaica.” The program began at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Unity Center, 411 NE 21st St., Miami. Collector or Fieldworker: Laurie K. Sommers. The Jamaican Folk Revue features poet and dancer Lucille Ranger-Brown. The Jamaican Folk Revue was formed in 1972 by Norma Darby in Miami to promote Jamaican music and dance. Caribbean Singers performance during a play. Title of Work: Ranger-Brown dancing to prerecorded music, Tea (accompanied by Collin Cole on guitar), Jamaican Independence (Brown poem in dialect written for the occasion), Moonshine Tonight (by Caribbean Singers), Day O (by Caribbean Singers), Island in the Sun (by Caribbean Singers with Julian Bakins solo), Jamaican National Anthem (ensemble, audience).
Field research interviews and live recordings (65 audiocassette tapes). Refer to Series 1 for the fieldworker's indexes for each audiocassette. The State Archives of Florida holds original tapes, including additional recordings not housed at HistoryMiami. Recordings are available online on Florida Memory.
3 slides.
Anglo-American Bluegrass band recorded at the South Florida Bluegrass Association/7-11 Benefit for Muscular Dystrophy at the Ives Optimist Club in North Miami. Collector or Fieldworker: Laurie K. Sommers. The Hollywood, Florida, based band is a five-piece string band consisting of leader Jim Mason (guitar/vocals, band leader Mason, born 1934, is from Lake Forest, Broward County), Chuck Mason (mandolin, vocals), Pat Hill (dobro, vocals), Andrew Gyllenahall (banjo, vocals) and Ed Pintoda (bass). Title of Works: Low and Lonely; Rambling Fever; Gone, Gone, Gone; Fireball, Chattanooga Dog; Lonesome River; Your Love Is Like a Flower; Great Big Woman.
Mexican-American mariachi band, La Familia Mora Arriaga, at the Third Annual Mexican Independence Day Fiesta. The two-day festival included professional mariachi bands performing at Benito Juarez Park in Florida City during the Mexican Independence Day Celebration (El Grito). Collector or Fieldworker: Nancy J. Nusz and Laurie Sommers. Recordings of music performances at the El Grito, the performance kick-off for Mexican Independence Day. Performers include Mariachi Jalisco and Quinto Poder. While the event celebrated actually occurred on 16 September 1810, most Mexican American communities begin observations on the 15 September with an El Grito -- a celebration featuring parades, music, and dancing. Title of Work by Quinto Poder: Tex-Mex corrido, Vestida de color de Rosa (Tex-Mex polka), La Bamba, cumbio. Title of Work by Familia Mora Arriaga: ranchera/mariachi medley, cucurrucucu-paloma, joke about machos, El Chuy, Mezral, Corrido de Pancho Villa, song about Mexico, La Raspa and selections with marimba, cielito Lindo.
Fina Estampa Band house band playing Peruvian music at Fina Estampa Restaurant in Miami. Collector or Fieldworker: Nancy Nusz. The band plays Vals music from the coast of Peru which is considered creole, since it contained Latino, African, and Indian elements. The recording only has two songs.
African-American singers Margaret Taylor (lead) and The Gospel Singers of Jesus, the First Born Church Choir, St. Johns Baptist Church Choir, and the Voices of Joy at a Gospel Sing at the First Born Church of the Living God in Goulds, Florida. Collector or Fieldworker: Nancy Nusz. Title of Works: Sung by Margaret Taylor and The Gospel Singers of Jesus: Oh How I Love Jesus, I Want to Go Where Jesus Been, Nobody but You Lord. Sung by the First Born Church Choir: Jesus Said; He is Sweet, I Know; There is No Failure in God; I
Latin American Folk Trio. Collector or Fieldworker: Laurie K. Sommers. A newly formed (a little over two weeks) trio when recorded, the trio consisted of Manolo Franco (harp, requinto), Hilda Gonzalez (vocals, maraccas), and Nelson Zuleto (quarto, guitar). Two are Columbian (Manolo and Gonzales) and the other is Venezuelan (Zuleto). They all play various instruments, and focus on Latin America folk music (pan-Latin). Title of Works: Nega (Brazilian samba), Alma, Corazon y Vida (Peruvian waltz), El Harpa en Juanchito (written by Manolo), El Parojo Campana (song from Paraguay), Ansiedad (Venezuelan passaje), Polo Margaritero (Venezuelan, cuatro solo by Nelson).
Performance by and interview with Miami Jewish vaudeville performers Harry Kalikow (1900-1994) and Lillian Kalikow, 1904-1989, at Washington Manor Convalescent Home in Hollywood. Collector or Fieldworker: Laurie K. Sommers. A recording of Harry Kalikow with his wife, Lillian, on piano, performing vaudeville routines, followed by an interview with both. Harry discusses learning vaudeville; getting started in the business; his career; examples of songs and jokes; and his move to Florida. Lillian discussed learning piano (by ear); playing for silent movies; and performing with Harry. Of Russian Jewish heritage, Harry Kalikow had been performing vaudeville since the age of 13. He moved to Miami in 1958 as a nightclub comedian. His act consisted of songs, jokes, and piano solos. The term vaudeville was an American word coined in the 1840s, and refers to a variety show comprised of a series of unconnected acts (singing, comedy, dancing, etc.). Title of Work: If I Had My Way (T86-101), Battle Hymn of the Republic (parody), Bye Bye Blackbird, I Am Always Chasing Rainbows, piano solo, Want Me to Want You, I Wonder Who Is Kissing Her Now, My Yiddish Home; also jokes and stories.
Church service at Martin Memorial AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church, Miami, with the Hauley Wiggins Choir of Greater St. Paul AME, Coconut Grove. Collector or Fieldworker: Laurie K. Sommers. Title of Works: Processional, Doxology, Sisters We Have Met to Worship, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Jesus Be a Fence (Hauley Wiggins Choir), How I Got Over, Oh for a Heart to Praise My God, I Heard the Voice of Jesus.
Cuban-American six-piece charanga band performing at El Bosque Supper Club (Club Bosque) in Miami. Collector or Fieldworker: Laurie K. Sommers. Charanga refers to a type of Cuban music and the band that plays it. Light, lush, accessible, dominated by flutes and strings; often used to cover pop tunes. Derived from 19th century French orchestras (charangas francesas). Includes flute, sax, violins, keyboard, electric guitar, guiro, congas, and vocals. Fecundo Rivera, born 1911, plays keyboards on set. They play a few of his songs including Virgin de Regla and Elequa with guest vocalist India de Oriente. Title of Work: Calculadora (cha cha), Feelings, Amorosa Guajira, Merengue, Nosotros (bolero).
Negatives are in the State Archives of Florida, and some of those images are available online through the Florida Memory portal.