Program Description:

Press “p” to play “Bernice Reagon & The Freedom Singers” from “David Dunaway”

Image by: Dave Gahr

Freedom Singers with Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, and Joan Baez

Bernice Reagon & The Freedom Singers

From: David Dunaway
Length: 58:00

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This award-winning 57 minute documentary evokes the history of the civil rights movement through its music and actuality. The late Bernice Reagon leads the singing and comments on the power of music. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

00:00:00

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00:28:08

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  • 00:28:08Bernice Reagon The Freedom Singers 1978 Part 1
  • 00:01:0060 seconds break Fats Waller Instrumental
  • 00:28:52Bernice Reagon The Freedom Singers 1978 Part 2

 

Bernice Reagon and the Freedom Singers: We Shall Overcome

In Albany Georgia in 1962, the civil rights movement brought singing to its followers using gospel and traditional folk tunes. Throughout U.S. history from the Revolutionary War onwards, leaders have turned to song to make their point. Labor, environmental, and many other movements have used this approach. But never more so than at the dawn of the mass civil rights movement in the South, when the Freedom Singers led large groups in adaptations of traditional hymns—turning them into the anthems of civil rights as songs like “We Shall Overcome.” These songs spread across the country, sung not only in marches but on campuses and in churches.

This award-winning documentary tells the history of the civil rights movement through music and oral histories, produced by one of America’s senior oral historians, David Dunaway.

The formation of the Freedom Singers, field organizers for the Student Non Violent Co-ordinating Committee, is where our story begins.

Timing and Cues

Part 1: 00:00-28;08
:60 break (Fats Waller instrumental) 28:08-29:08
Part II 29:08-58:00

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

In the 1960s, the late musician Bernice Reagon formed a group of civil rights musicians, the Freedom Singers. Here is the story of the Civil Rights movement, told through their music.

OUTRO:

You’ve been listening to Bernice Reagon and the Freedom Singers, musicians from the civil rights movement, produced by David Dunaway of KUNM-Albuquerque

Musical Works
TitleArtistAlbumLabelYearLength

Traditional & Gospel Tunes
Various, Freedom Singers
Voices of the Civil Rights Movement.
Folkways Records
1962

Related Website

SNCC Freedom Singers (1962-1966)

Program Time Length: 58:00

Day and Time Available to Stations: Any Day or Time

Program Frequency: One off

Program Contains Explicit Language/Content: No

Program is Doing Music Reporting for Syndication: Yes

Program Has Underwriting Announcements: No

Program Contains Sponsorship/Donation Information or Request: No

Program Website Has Products/Services for Sale or Accepts Donations: No

Program Has Pledge Drive Editions or Pitches Available: No

Program Has Pledge Drive Premiums Available: No

RSS Feed for Stations:

Web download for stations:

PRX/PRSS Link for Stations: https://exchange.prx.org/pieces/538068-bernice-reagon-the-freedom-singers#description

Program Contact if Stations Have Questions: dunaway@unm.edu