3.3Inspired by the music and subjects featured in the series “Godfather of Harlem,” this documentary series brings alive the dramatic true story of Harlem and its music during the 1960s, and connects that history to our present moment.
Keith McQuirter
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Forest Whitaker
Self
Giancarlo Esposito
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Ilfenesh Hadera
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Gladys Knight
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Martha Reeves
Self
Jamal Joseph
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Herbie Hancock
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Markuann Smith
Self
Denise Oliver-Velez
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Gary Bartz
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Joe Baatan
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Al Sharpton
Self
1. Mecca
The 'cultural capital of Black America,' 1960s Harlem faces problems and rising tensions as all over the country, civil rights protests proliferate. As the decade unfolds, music gives voice to a community fighting for justice.
2. Freedom Songs
A musical, political and spiritual revolution gains momentum across Black America, inspiring Jazz greats John Coltrane, Charlie Mingus and Max Roach to express their activism through their instruments, and Abbey Lincoln to vocalize her pain in song.
3. Crossroads
The rich diversity of the Harlem population shapes new forms of music that draw on different sounds and styles heard around the neighborhood, like R&B, jazz, soul, mambo, blues, and 'boogaloo,' all of which reflect the common goal of racial justice.
4. Power
New voices like the Black Panthers offer a message to Black America: reform is not enough; it's time for revolution. The call for Black Power sparks a cultural shift not just in Harlem, but around the world, as Black music infiltrates the mainstream.
