Celebrate the vibrant Jazz, R&B and Soul music of African American artists who, during segregation, created the foundation of modern American music. Navigating the injustices of racial segregation was difficult and, at times, dangerous—even for renowned Black artists like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Little Richard or Sam Cooke. Like many other Black Americans, they relied on Victor Hugo Green’s Negro Travelers’ Green Book, a directory of lodgings, restaurants and entertainment venues where African Americans were safe and welcomed. The virtual “underground musicians green book”—a network of friends, family and fans—provided food, lodging and fellowship for Black entertainers on tour.

Green’s book was a guide to a parallel world of vibrant Black neighborhoods like New York City’s Harlem, Chicago’s Bronzeville and Washington, D.C.’s U Street, where Black entrepreneurs created thriving businesses that served and sustained Black patrons and artists. Informally known as the Chitlin’ Circuit, these music venues included glamorous theaters, swinging dance halls and rural juke joints, where icons and rising stars alike honed their craft and won audience acclaim.

The program shines the spotlight on legendary Jazz, R&B and Soul performers who kept The Apollo and Howard Theaters and Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom jumping, and who also toured the Southern one-night circuit on their road to success. It features an exciting mix of classic songs performed by legendary and contemporary stars and candid interviews with performers, celebrities and notable musicians who were a part of the circuit. Music was a uniting force during segregation and remains so to this day. The Musicians’ Green Book will honor the genius of these Black artists, who, during these difficult times, changed America with their songs.

Premiering exclusively in December on PBS.

The Musicians’ Green Book – An Enduring Legacy

Cast & Contributors
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The Musical Performers


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Ed Vodicka, the musical director, arranger and pianist for this special, is also a record producer, conductor and session musician. He has conducted the orchestra and accompanied major stars (including Perry Como, Bob Hope, Donna Summer and Sammy Davis Jr.), produced major musical events, and was music director for such renowned jazz singers as Anita O’Day, Bill Henderson, and Marlene VerPlanck.
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Josephine Beavers is the daughter of jazz singer Laura Joy and grew up around such family friends as Al Hibbler, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. While she always loved to sing, Ms. Beavers took many years off to raise four children. She still sang on a part-time basis and in recent years has pursued her dream—performing at jazz and other venues and recording her long overdue debut album, Prime Time.
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Little Anthony is a legendary r&b singer who became famous as the lead singer with the Imperials starting in 1958, having hits with “Tears On My Pillow,” “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop,” “I’m On The Outside (Looking In),” “Goin’ Out Of My Head” and “Hurt So Bad.”
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Johnny Britt is a singer, trumpet player and song writer who has a successful solo career as well as having been the youngest musical director for The Temptations. He was also the assistant musical director for this special.
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Howard Hewett, who was the lead singer in Shalamar, has had a busy solo career that included the hits “I’m For Real,” “Stay,” “Strange Relationship” “Once, Twice, Three Times.” “Show Me,” and “If I Could Only Have That Day Back.”
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Darlene Love was the lead singer with the Blossoms (including “He’s A Rebel”), a prolific background singer, and one of the stars of the documentary “20 Feet From Stardom.” She has had an impressive solo singing career in addition to appearing in Broadway productions and in movies.

Participants

who shared their memories and stories

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Virginia Ali has owned and run the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street in Washington D.C since 1958 and actually knew Victor Hugo Green.
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H.B. Barnum toured with James Brown and Otis Redding, was the music director for the Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Aretha Franklin and Barry White, and has written arrangements and compositions for many artists including Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake.

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The Washington director for the Urban League, Courtland Cox was active in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and is a long-time social advocate based in Washington D.C.

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Kenny Elliott studied drums at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago when he was ten and had several influential teachers including Harold Jones. In the late 1970s he moved to Los Angeles where he became a busy studio drummer, working with Lionel Richie, Mel Torme, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole and Joe Cocker among countless others.
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Rusty Hassan has been a producer and host of weekly jazz radio programs for the past half-century in addition to teaching jazz history courses at many colleges.
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Legendary drummer Harold Jones was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra and has worked with a long list of music giants including Sarah Vaughan (for a decade), Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, and Tony Bennett and drives the beat for the big band in this special.
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Drummer Manny Kellough toured with Ray Charles when he was 17, worked with Billy Preston for 25 years, and also played extensively with Barry White, Carmen McRae and the Rolling Stones.
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Rick Lee is the now retired owner
of Lee’s Flower Shop, a mainstay on U Street in Washington DC since 1945.

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Aaron Myers is a pianist, soulful singer, music producer, social and political advocate, and entrepreneur based in Washington DC.
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Saxophonist Charles Owens worked with Buddy Rich, Mongo Santamaria, Gerald Wilson, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra among many others. Listen for his tenor sax solos on this special.
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Nolan Shaheed, a musician and writer who does some stellar playing on this special, worked with Marvin Gaye, the Count Basie Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross, is also an arranger/composer, a prolific record producer and a world-renowned sound engineer.
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Rev. Dr. Sandra Butler-Truesdale, who worked with Ray Charles and James Brown, is a music historian from Washington DC and co-hosts the Don’t Forget the Blues radio series on WPFW.

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A member of many charitable and community organizations in Washington DC, Gretchen Wharton is currently on the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
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Benjamin Wright is a legendary record producer, song writer and arranger who was also a child actor in the 1940s, a singer with the Dootones and the Robins, and an arranger for, among others, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, the Supremes and Aretha Franklin.

The Writers

who shared their memories and stories

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Opelika, Alabama native, Michael S Bandy is an award-winning children’s book author and screenwriter. A three time NAACP Image Award Nominee - twice for Children’s Literature and once for Best Screenplay Made for Television Movie, Michael has also garnered “starred” plaudits from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews and the New York Times. His talents also include Media Representative for Disney’s El Capitan Theatre and Walt Disney Studios Trivia Host.
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Brian Byers is an actor, singer, and award-winning copywriter— CLIO Key Art Award—“The Best of the Tonight Show— Johnny Carson’s Favorite Moments”. He has written for a wide variety of Film and Home Video enterprises—Disney, Warner Brothers, ABC News, The Learning Channel—as well as an eclectic array of non-show-biz clients.
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Nolan Shaheed – Find his bio above HERE.
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Scott Yanow is a prolific jazz journalist, covering all eras and styles of music. He has written 12 books (most recently Life Through The Eyes Of A Jazz Journalist), over 900 liner notes, more than 20,000 recording reviews for virtually every jazz publication, conducted hundreds of interviews, and has been a major force in the field for over 45 years.
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