Yesterday Once More

15 Nov 2016

Great Afro American Singers

Hi Listeners,

This week’s program is all CLASS. The twelve singers featured in the program represent the cream of Afro American singers from the fifties to the seventies. By necessity, many singers have been left out so maybe a second edition of the program is desirable. We haven’t been able to squeeze in great singers like Aretha Franklin, Louis Armstrong or Ella Fitzgearld.

Prolific songwriter/singer and influential Motown representative, Smoky Robinson, is featured with his ‘Tears Of A Clown’. LGBTIQ performer Johnny Mathis, is a favourite of this program and here he applies his silky voice to ‘Misty’. Two popular singers were Roberta Flack (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face) and dance queen, Donna Summer (Hot Stuff). The successful combination of Bacharach and David with Dionne Warwick is included with one of her many big hits ‘I Say A Little Prayer’. Exciting and controversial Nina Simone sings the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ song ‘I Put A Spell On You’ with a spine tingling performance.

We are also privileged to feature our own Afro American star, Marcia Hines, with her early cover of ‘Fire And Rain’ and deep voiced Della Reese with ‘More’. Ray Charles (I Can’t Stop Loving You), Sam Cooke (You Send Me) and Marvin Gaye (How Sweet It Is) and multi-talented, Sammy Davis Jnr (Mr Bojangles), round out a wonderful collection of talent.

Playlist

* Tears Of A Clown – Smoky Robinson
* Misty – Johnny Mathis
* The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
* I Say A Little Prayer – Dionne Warwick
* Mr Bojangles – Sammy Davis Jnr
* Fire And Rain – Marcia Hines
* Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
* I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles
* More – Della Reese
* You Send Me – Sam Cooke
* How Sweet It Is – Marvin Gaye
* i Put A Spell On You – Nina Simone