Yesterday Once More

23 May 2017

Great Afro American Singers Part 2

Hi Listeners,

This week’s program is all CLASS! Last year we presented Great Afro American Singers Part I and realised that we missed out on some great singers.So we are back this year with the second instalment . It is indeed a program full of top, international singing stars. They range from rhythm and blues, to jazz to swing to pop.

Two of the greatest exponents of rock n roll (rhythm and blues) were Chuck Berry (Sweet Little Sixteen) and Little Richard (Lucille) who spearheaded he rock n roll craze of the fifties and sixties. Three jazz/pop divas were Sarah Vaughan with her stirring rendition of the Lennon-McCartney song ‘Yesterday’, Ella Fitzgerald’s brief foray into pop ‘If I Were A Bell’ and the wonderful Lena Horne with the Paul McCartney classic ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’.

And how is this for undisputed excellence and quality – The exciting voice of Ray Charles (I Can’t Stop Loving You), the silky voice of Nat King Cole with the Hoagy Carmichael classic ‘Stardust’ and the great grandfather of jazz, Louis Armstrong with the Kurt Weil song noir ‘Mack The Knife’. Add the wonderful soulful voice of Sam Cooke (Cupid) and you have a superlative mix.

It doesn’t end there. Add Nancy Wilson’s ‘Face It Girl It’s Over’ and Aretha Franklin’s signature song ‘Respect’ and Dinah Washington’s rendition of the Noel Coward classic ‘Mad About The Boy’ and you can see why I’m excited to present this program full of CLASS.

Playlist