He’d broken down in tears upon hearing of King’s assassination in 1968 and attended the funeral. Wonder’s connection to King was deep and profound. to grab some of the green glowsticks under the seats once they lit them up, he added, somewhat whimsically, “You look marvelous.” But it was also a serious night, a triumphant climax for Wonder’s nearly decade-long quest to ensure that his hero’s birthday was honored as a national holiday. Before it began, Wonder told the audience at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. At the end of the two-hour telecast, which was titled “An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.,” all those performers - along with Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Quincy Jones, Eddie Murphy, Gregory Hines, and others - gathered onstage with Wonder to sing “Happy Birthday,” his jubilant tribute to King. Whitney Houston, energized and vocally stirring, bounded onstage to join Ashford and Simpson for “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”Įven with all that star power, the night belonged to Stevie Wonder. Bob Dylan and his band glided through a gently pulsing, almost R&B take on “I Shall Be Released,” and Dylan joined Peter, Paul and Mary for “Blowin’ in the Wind” - remarkably, the first time all four had ever sung that song together onstage. Holland-Dozier-Holland indie rock Jackson 5 Jam bands James Brown Jay-Z jazz Jimi Hendrix Joel Francis Joe Strummer John Coltrane John Lennon Johnny Cash Kansas City Kanye West Louis Armstrong Marvin Gaye Michael Jackson Miles Davis Motown music Neil Young Norman Whitfield Paul McCartney Peter Gabriel Pink Floyd Prince Public Enemy punk punk music R.E.M.By network broadcasting standards, the night of January 20th, 1986, had more than its share of rarely-seen-on-TV highlights. Search for: Archives Archives Tags: alt-country Americana Back To Rockville Beatles Berry Gordy blues music Bob Dylan Bob Marley Brian Eno Bruce Springsteen country music David Ruffin Diana Ross Elvis Costello Elvis Presley Flaming Lips folk music Four Tops Funk Brothers George Clinton George Harrison Gladys Knight hip hop Hitsville U.S.A. Then again, more people are probably familiar with “Higher Ground.” And Stevie Wonder never met my dad. In a day rife with symbolism and historic importance, the significance of performing “Happy Birthday” would have been amazing. It was a touch disappointing to watch Wonder elect to perform “Higher Ground” at the “We Are One” concert that took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Wonder also understands that birthdays are about parties, so his homage to King is as much a celebration of life as a remembrance. The synthesizers and drums may be dated, but the lyrics and sentiment capture the hope and love as well as U2’s more famous tribute. The grim photos – which include depictions white police officers attacking black protesters – stand in contrast to the buoyant melody of the song. Wonder’s essay is accompanied by photos of King and the Civil Rights movement. We in the United States must not forget either his supreme sacrifice or that dream.” We still have a long road to travel until we reach the world that was his dream. He showed us, non-violently, a better way of life, a way of mutual respect, helping us to avoid much bitter confrontation and inevitable bloodshed. Martin Luther King was a man who had that strength. For nearly two thousand years now we have been striving to have the strength to follow that example. Jesus Christ by his own example showed us that there is no greater love. “It is believed that for a man to lay down his life for the love of others is the supreme sacrifice. Wonder performed the song at the Rally For Peace press conference in 1981, and wrote an essay about King that appeared on the album liner sleeve. The song was a rallying point in the fight to establish King’s birthday as a holiday. King’s birthday was not a national holiday when Wonder penned this tribute. Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” is the perfect salute to these days, but it means even more this year, on the eve of Barack Obama’s inauguration. Most of the time, the extra day off works means we celebrate a bit longer. Every few years, the calendar aligns so that my dad’s birthday lands on Martin Luther King Day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |