We celebrate John Coltrane, warmly welcome South African songstress Zamajobe, and salute Paul Robeson with 15 versions of his signature song, "Old Man River," featuring The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet, Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters, The Ravens, Paul Whiteman featuring Paul Robeson, Selma Reis, Milton Nascimento, Lou Rawls, George Adams, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Smith, Ernie Andrews, Gloria Lynne, The Temptations, Tutu Puoane, and Henry Butler.
Paul Robeson was a beautiful man of deep and broad-ranging talents, but most of all he was a principled and proud man who fought injustice regardless of the cost exacted because of his convictions.
Thanks in major part to Paul Robeson who catapulted the song far, far beyond Broadway entertainment, “Old Man River” is one of the most famous and internationally celebrated songs produced in the United States. Originally designed as a feature for Joe, who was the lead deckhand, “Old Man River” is generally associated in the public mind with a statement by black workers in America. Many of us either have forgotten or never knew the deep politics that surround this famous song. We hear at BoL will never forget. We will always remember the conscious contributions of Paul Robeson and the many others who followed in his famous footsteps.
—Kalamu ya Salaam