[Harp-L] Re: To Tell the Truth

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Aeskow@xxxxxxx
To: owner-harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 3:36 PM
Subject: To Tell the Truth


Bob--

    These are extremely perceptive insights about black-originated music in 
the White Tornado/Mr. Clean/Make Room for Daddy world of American TV in the 
'50s, which unfortunately continued well into the '60s and '70s, and has 
certainly not ended completely--or if it did, I missed the story in the 
newspapers.  There was a Jack Benny show that drew much hilarity from 
Rochester's desperate attempts to catch a Louis Armstrong show--actor and 
musician were friends in real life--and how it conflicted with "Mistah 
Benny's" big dinner-party.  Much eye-popping hysteria on Rochester's part, 
almost a Klan portrayal of black people and their music, and of course all 
contrasted with "Mistah Benny's" refined preference for classical (i.e. 
white) music.  And this was on a GOOD show, which employed many smart, 
"liberal" writers, starring a man who himself spoke out (and contributed 
money) for racial justice.  Thanks so much for giving younger list-members 
this historical perspective.
     One question, though: do you mean that people have a "romanticized 
view of their heroes"--or of the way they were forced to live and create 
their work?

Peace and Respect,
Johnny T

Hi Johnny,
Basically so many people "romnanticize" their heroes by putting them on such 
a high pedestal that they give them too much of a God-like quality, because 
many of them had to do what they had to just to survive, and some of them 
had to survive in some really shady things be it dealing drugs, pimping, 
etc., none of which I condone, but one has to understand, and not be 
surprised if they hear one of their heroes doing things one normally may 
look down upon because regardless of talent or anything else, first, last, 
and always, they are human beings, and human beings do nice things, dumb 
things, as well as terrible things and so everyone has a helluva lot of gray 
area within themselves.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/