[ LOOK TO SEE ]
Keith Leblanc w/ Herbie Hancock
After “No Sell Out,” Keith set off to London, and the musician’s effort to save the world.
a decade of protest and political activism.
1985
Artists Against Apartheid
Sun City – Artists United Against Apartheid
A group founded by
Steven Van Zandt (Little/Miami Steve) — w/Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band
Arthur Baker (record producer)
to protest apartheid in South Africa.
The group produced the song “Sun City” and the album Sun City that year.
considered a notable anti-apartheid song.
Sun City
Sun City was a South African resort where black entertainers were allowed to perform in front of all-white audiences. Much like on Miami Beach in the 1950s when black artists (Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, …) could play, but could not stay in the Fountainebleu and Eden Roc hotels on the beach.
George Clinton
Afrika Bambaataa
(Soul Sonic Force)
Skip McDonald
Doug Wimbish
Keith Leblanc
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Kurtis Blow
Duke Bootee
Run DMC
Herbie Hancock
(Bernard Fowler)
Those musicians supporting the cause, included:
Miami Steve / Little Steven
Miles Davis
Ringo Starr
Herbie Hancock
Bruce Springsteen
Bono
Bob Dylan
Keith Richards
Ron Wood
Clarence Clemons
Peter Gabriel
Jimmy Cliff
Joey Ramone
Lou Reed
Gil-Scott Heron
Nona Hendryx
Darlene Love
Daryl Hall
John Oates
David Ruffin
Eddie Kendrick
Bonnie Raitt
Jackson Browne
Stanley Jordan
Shankar
Ray Barretto
Ruben Blades
Peter Wolf
Pete Townshend
Kashif
Big Youth
Peter Garrett
Malopoets
Sonny Okosuns
Linton
Kwesi Johnson
Michael Monroe
Zak Starkey
Bob Geldof (LIVE AID!)
Richard Scher
Robbie Kilgore
Zoe Yanakis
Ron Carter
Jam Master Jay
DJ Cheese
Daryl Hannah
B.J. Nelson
Lotti Golden
Tina B.
Kevin McCormick
The Dunnes Stores Strikers
Annie Brody,
Dutka And The I.D.
Robert Gordon
Steve Walker
Artists United Against Apartheid
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BIvf-ZlJNc
WRITING AND RECORDING
Van Zandt became interested in writing a song about Sun City to make parallels with the plight of Native Americans. Danny Schechter, a journalist who was then working with ABC News’ 20/20, suggested turning the song into a different kind of “We Are the World,”
“a song about change not charity, freedom not famine.”
When Van Zandt was finished writing “Sun City,” he, Schechter, and producer Arthur Baker spent the next several months searching for artists to participate in the project.
Van Zandt initially declined to invite Springsteen, not wanting to take advantage of their friendship, but Schechter had no problem asking, and Bruce gladly accepted the invitation.
Van Zandt was also shy about calling legendary jazz artist Miles Davis. Schechter initiated the contact and Davis also accepted.
Eventually, Van Zandt, Baker and Schechter would gather an array of artists,
described by rock critic Dave Marsh as
“the most diverse line up of popular musicians ever assembled for a single session”
Including
Kool DJ Herc
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Ruben Blades
Bob Dylan
Pat Benatar
Herbie Hancock
Ringo Starr and his son Zak Starkey
Lou Reed
Run–D.M.C.
Peter Gabriel
Bob Geldof
Clarence Clemons
David Ruffin
Eddie Kendricks
Darlene Love
Bobby Womack
Afrika Bambaataa
Kurtis Blow
The Fat Boy
Jackson Browne,
Daryl Hannah
Peter Wolf
Bono
George Clinton
Keith Richards
Ronnie Wood
Bonnie Raitt
Hall & Oates
Jimmy Cliff
Big Youth
Michael Monroe
Stiv Bators
Peter Garrett
Ron Carter
Ray Barretto,
Gil Scott-Heron,
Nona Hendryx
Kashif,
Lotti Golden,
Lakshminarayana
Shankar
and Joey Ramone.
These artists also vowed never to perform at Sun City, because to do so would in their minds seem to be an acceptance of apartheid.
INVISIBLE
The Original Sugarhill Rhythm Section — Skip McDonald/ Doug Wimbish/ Keith Leblanc/
Barely recognized for their writing, playing, and producing “Artists United Against Apartheid.”
They were friends of (named) producer Arthur Baker, who knew it best to as his friends
SKIP McDONALD, KEITH LEBLANC, and DOUG WIMBISH to make the record.
“Standing in the Shadows of Motown” — Funk Brothers/ Another “invisible” rhythm section.
TRAILER — https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=–1Rbo3EWhM
Sugar Hill
Hip-Hop Comes to Harlem
Vanity Fair
— “Love Is Strange” (1956) Mickey & Sylvia (Robinson)
Joe Robinson owned nightclubs in Harlem/A Hustler with Roulette Record’s Morris Levy.
— “Pillow Talk” (1973) Sylvia Robinson
WOOD, BRASS, & STEEL / Harold Seargeant, Skip, Keith, Doug/ Hartford/ Dance Funk Band/
Disco Virtuosos/ Studio 54/ David Mancuso Loft Party (extended) Jams [NYC]/ Paradise Garage/
Bernard Fowler — Paradise Garage/ Larry Levan/ NYCiti Peach Boys/ Herbie Hancock/
— “Funkanova”
— “Welcome to the Party”
— “Wood, Brass, & Steel” (Theme)
SUGAR HILL / Platinum Records/ Joe & Sylvia Robinson/ Roulette Records/ Morris Levy/ Uptown
Nightclubs in Harlem/ Gambling/ Mobsters/ Impressed by a local DJ/ Entertaining w/o a Band/
— “Unity” w/James Brown, Afrika Bambaataa
— “Rappers Delight”
— “Step Off”
— “White Lines”
— “The Message”
— “Space Race”
MIAMI VICE (1984) — Doug’s Jan Hammer connection w/Jeff Beck, Santana
— “Vice” (Miami) w/Melle Mel
ARTISTS UNITED AGAINST APARTHEID (1985)
— “Artists Unite Against Apartheid”/ The Original Sugar Hill Rhythm Section
KEITH LEBLANC vs. SUGAR HILL
— “No Sell Out”/ Malcolm X/ Betty Shabazz “The Queen”/ Keith vs. Sugar Hill
ON-U SOUND / ADRIAN SHERWOOD w/Gary Clail/ Mark Stewart/ Maffia
— “Major Malfunction”/ KLB/ Challenger Explosion
— “Mind At The End Of The Tether” (Fats Comet)
TACK>>HEAD
— “Break Out The Bubbly”
BERNARD FOWLER — Larry Levan/ Paradise Garage/ NYCiti Peech Boys/ Rolling Stones/
Mick Jagger/ Charlie Watts/ Ron Wood/ Bomb the Bass/ Sly & Robbie/ Yoko Ono/ Philip Glass/
“Beat Street” —
LITTLE AXE — Skip McDonald/ 1992 The Wolf That House Built/ 2006 Real World Records 20th/
Peter Gabriel/ Robert Plant/ “Too Late” 2006 Real World Sessions
LIVING COLOUR — Vernon Reid/ Corey Glover/ Will Calhoun/ Muzz Skillings/ Doug Wimbish
HEAD>>FAKE — Doug Wimbish/ Will Calhoun [David Sancious/”CollideOscope”]
ROLLING STONES — Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman
Chuck Leavell — The Allman Bros./ Sea Level/ Eric Clapton (Unplugged ) /
Darryl Jones — Chicago/ Miles Davis/ Sting/ darryljones.com
“Shine A Light” — Martin Scorcese filmed/directed the Rolling Stones
2006 at the Beacon Theater in New York City.
TRAILER — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yilMXRNDs4
Steel Wheels — Miami/ Orange Bowl/ Little Havana parking/ Life’s A Stage
Tongue Logos/ $500 Leather jackets/ Passe out under the VISA banner/
We’ll meet after, at the inflated Bud can/
Kick Ass Rock N Roll — “Honky Tonk Women”/ Inflatable Dolls/ Writhing In The Breeze/
From the back, a sensual blowing in the wind, looking up from the second row?
A different scene. Four roadies, high in the scaffolding, two behind each woman,
Facing away, holding on tight and kicking the hot air balloon in it’s giant, inflated ass.
[ Doug, on tour with Tara Turunen answers the phone from a ferry halfway across a fiord
between Norway and Sweden. He’s in the middle of a Winter Tour taking him to
Moscow, Oslo, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Athens, Prague.]
Schechter had also taken on the job of documenting the sessions on video and producing a behind-the-scenes documentary, working with 16 mm crews and independent production companies, directed by Jonathan Demme.
Washington Square Park — 150 policemen surrounded the entire park on horseback and foot to secure the area for the performance, which included Van Zandt, Bono, Springsteen, the Fat Boys, Mötley Crüe, Afrika Bambaataa, Nona Hendryx and others.
“When Miles started improvising in the studio…Steven and Arthur [Baker] insisted I not approach him with a camera. ‘It’s Miles, man,” Baker said. “He’s erratic, idiosyncratic, explosive. Wild. Don’t mess with him when he’s playing…’ I barged into the booth while Davis was setting up, introduced myself and asked if we could videotape him. Through the glass I could see Steve and Arthur, heads in hands, convinced that I had blown it. Miles smiled. ‘Bring it on,’ he ordered, ‘bring it on.’ And we did, getting priceless footage in the bargain.”
— “The Last Word” Unreleased compilation [2002]
— w/ PRINCE @ PAISLEY PARK (NEW YEAR’S 1987/88)
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T-H_Kny0wk
— w/ CHAKA KHAN @ MONTREUX (1989) “HUMAN NATURE”
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ5E4Jo3lpU
“Sun City“
Steve Van Zandt’s protest song against Apartheid, focused on the opulent, oceanfront resort where blacks were prohibited from seeing any concerts or shows in the city.
“A song about change not charity, freedom not famine.”[1]
— Danny Schechter,
ABC News‘
20/20
A different kind of “We Are the World”
Dave Marsh
DJ Kool Herc
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Ruben Blades
Bob Dylan
Pat Benatar
Herbie Hancock
Ringo Starr
Zak Starkey
Lou Reed
Run–D.M.C.
Peter Gabriel
Bob Geldof
Clarence Clemons
David Ruffin
Eddie Kendricks
Darlene Love
Bobby Womack
Afrika Bambaataa
Kurtis Blow
The Fat Boys
Jackson Browne
Daryl Hannah
Peter Wolf
Bono
George Clinton
Keith Richards
Ronnie Wood
Bonnie Raitt
Hall & Oates
Jimmy Cliff
Big Youth
Michael Monroe
Stiv Bators
Peter Garrett
Ron Carter
Ray Barretto
Gil Scott-Heron
Nona Hendryx
Kashif
Lotti Golden
Lakshminarayana Shankar
Joey Ramone.
1982
As part of the “No Nukes” movement during the Cold War, the largest political rally in US history takes place when about 750,000 people go to New York’s Central Park for the Rally for Nuclear Disarmament, which features performances by Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and Gary U.S. Bonds.
No Nukes
CENTRAL PARK/ JUNE 12, 1982
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=hrYx5FN2RiY
Jackson Browne/Bruce Springsteen
http:// bestclassicbands.com/nuclear-disarmament-rally-1982-6-12-15/
Time Magazine/ Driving in on bus/ Spanish Harlem/ What have I got myself into?/
Mark Omasic? and ? basketball in Riverside Park/
Barnard Dormitory/ Resident Advisor stayed for the summer/
Two midwestern model/actress hopefuls we let stay on the seventh floor.
“Das Boot,” “Liquid Sky,” same cab twice
Greenwich Village party (Bev Rieff)
Jay Gayoso — NYPD Cherry selection/ Three-Card naivtee/
Last experience in the city:
THE ROXY w/Anne Stovell/ Learning to skate/ “Six Degrees of Separation”/
“Working Girls” photograph/ Left portfolio in cab/ Shuttle-Egret-Alligator/ Looking Up Baseball
“Beat Street” — Hollywood depiction of
Introductory lunch in Time/Life building with Arnold Drapkin
Gainesville Green in the photo lab
With Arnold for the start of the Iran/Iraq war.
When we were pro-Iraq/ Three sets of photographs for networks/ No money, just credit
Watching three televisions with Arnold, waiting for the pictures
Had the Concord delayed in Paris, awaiting arrival of film traveling from Tel Aviv
“don’t wear easily-grabbed jewelry”
NO NUKES
“no camera”
“JEWS FOR JESUS”
“FAGGOTS AGAINST KILLING MEN IN WAR”
Under Oak tree/ Selling egg salad sandwiches/ Bella Abzug/ Standing for Springsteen
Loose joints Jean-luc Ponty/King Crimson at the pier/aircraft carrier
Steve Khan @ 7th Ave. South
Animation — Jon Anderson w/David Sancious
Ritchie Blackmore [$25 ticket off-the-street] Madison Square Garden
Long walk home after Yankee Stadium/ Right-field stands/ Peurto Rican Boom Boxes/
Angel Reggie Jackson/ Between-inning stand up./