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I just saw a good documentary on what was the first Black directed and produced show on US television that was made in NYC. I was amazed to find out that, IMHO. the greatest gospel singer of all time, Marion Williams, was a guest on the show in 1968. A young Stevie Wonder with Wonderlove was featured a few times on the show, including one episode where he just kept playing, even though he went way over his allotted time, and they had to keep getting new cans of tape at the time to capture his entire performance. Billy Taylor, Roland Kirk, and many other jazz musicians of the time were also feattured on the show, along with many Black poets.

The clips on the show were pretty short, but here's an idea of who appeared during the show's five year run:

 
Ellis Haizlip Ellis Haizlip ...  Self - Host / ... 12 episodes, 1968-1973
Jerry Butler Jerry Butler ...  Self - Host 7 episodes, 1969-1972
Patti LaBelle Patti LaBelle ...  Self 3 episodes, 1969-1970
Curtis Mayfield Curtis Mayfield ...  Self - Host 3 episodes, 1970
Anna Maria Horsford Anna Maria Horsford ...  Self 3 episodes, 1971-1973
Gerry Bledsoe Gerry Bledsoe ...  Self - Announcer / ... 3 episodes, 1972-1973
Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali ...  Self 2 episodes, 1968-1970
The Five Stairsteps The Five Stairsteps ...  Themselves 2 episodes, 1969-1970
Roberta Flack Roberta Flack ...  Self 2 episodes, 1969-1970
Novella Nelson Novella Nelson ...  Self 2 episodes, 1970-1971
Sonia Sanchez Sonia Sanchez ...  Self 2 episodes, 1970-1971
King Curtis King Curtis ...  Self 2 episodes, 1970
James Earl Jones James Earl Jones ...  Self 2 episodes, 1970
Loretta Green Loretta Green ...  Self / ... 2 episodes, 1972-1973
Loretta Long Loretta Long ...  Self - Hostess 1 episode, 1968
Barbara Ann Teer Barbara Ann Teer ...  Self 1 episode, 1968
Marion Williams Marion Williams ...  Self - Singer 1 episode, 1968
Baby Huey and the Babysitters Baby Huey and the Babysitters ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1969
The Bluebells The Bluebells ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Shirley Chisholm Shirley Chisholm ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Soul Dukes Soul Dukes ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1969
The Fred Benjamin Dancers The Fred Benjamin Dancers ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1969
Inge Hardison Inge Hardison ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Brenda Jo Harris Brenda Jo Harris ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Georgia Jackson Georgia Jackson ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Jacob Lawrence Jacob Lawrence ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Mandrill Mandrill ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Judy Pace Judy Pace ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Lord Superior Lord Superior ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Dee Dee Warwick Dee Dee Warwick ...  Self 1 episode, 1969
Willie & The Mighty Magnificents Willie & The Mighty Magnificents ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1969
Ruby Andrews Ruby Andrews ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Archie Bell & The Drells Archie Bell & The Drells ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1970
Duke Baldwin Duke Baldwin ...  Announcer 1 episode, 1970
Billy Butler Billy Butler ...  Self (as Billy Butler & Infinity) 1 episode, 1970
Tee Collins Tee Collins ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Sarah Dash Sarah Dash ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
The Delfonics The Delfonics ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1970
Lonne Elder III Lonne Elder III ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Eddie Floyd Eddie Floyd ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Donny Hathaway Donny Hathaway ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Nona Hendryx Nona Hendryx ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Honey Cone Honey Cone ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1970
Hal Jackson Hal Jackson ...  Self - Host 1 episode, 1970
B.B. King B.B. King ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
The Manhattans The Manhattans ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1970
Holly Maxwell Holly Maxwell ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Little Milton Little Milton ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
The Moments The Moments ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1970
Melba Moore Melba Moore ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Vivian Reed Vivian Reed ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Gale Sayers Gale Sayers ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Henry Shed Henry Shed ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Carla Thomas Carla Thomas ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
The Unifics The Unifics ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1970
Joe Lee Wilson Joe Lee Wilson ...  Self 1 episode, 1970
Marilyn Berry Marilyn Berry ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
Ron Carter Ron Carter ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
Carmen De Lavallade Carmen De Lavallade ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
Jackie Earley Jackie Earley ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
Carolyn Franklin Carolyn Franklin ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
Nikki Giovanni Nikki Giovanni ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
Margaret Harris Margaret Harris ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
Bobby Hebb Bobby Hebb ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
M'Boom M'Boom ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1971
The Persuasions The Persuasions ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1971
Soundra Sharpe Soundra Sharpe ...  Self 1 episode, 1971
G. Keith Alexander G. Keith Alexander ...  Self - Announcer 1 episode, 1972
Nick Ashford Nick Ashford ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
The Black Ivory The Black Ivory ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1972
Michael Goode Michael Goode ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Black Heat Black Heat ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1972
Vanessa Howard Vanessa Howard ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Jimmy Briscoe & The Little Beavers Jimmy Briscoe & The Little Beavers ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1972
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Rahsaan Roland Kirk ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Taj Mahal Taj Mahal ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
The Moonglows The Moonglows ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1972
The New Birth The New Birth ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1972
David 'Fathead' Newman Jr. David 'Fathead' Newman Jr. ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
The Nite-Liters The Nite-Liters ...  Themselves 1 episode, 1972
Ron O'Neal Ron O'Neal ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Babatu Ojinga Babatu Ojinga ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Peaches Peaches ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Lucky Peterson Lucky Peterson ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Ray Simpson Ray Simpson ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Valerie Simpson Valerie Simpson ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Cicely Tyson Cicely Tyson ...  Self - Guest 1 episode, 1972
Zulema Zulema ...  Self 1 episode, 1972
Philip Bailey Philip Bailey ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Alonzo Brown Jr. Alonzo Brown Jr. ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Jessica Cleaves Jessica Cleaves ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Leslie Demus Leslie Demus ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Larry Dunn Larry Dunn ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Johnny Graham Johnny Graham ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Linda Hopkins Linda Hopkins ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Ralph Johnson Ralph Johnson ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Sherry Santifer Sherry Santifer ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Maurice White Maurice White ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Verdine White Verdine White ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Andrew Woolfolk Andrew Woolfolk ...  Self 1 episode, 1973
Alvin F. Poussaint Alvin F. Poussaint ...  Self - Host unknown episodes

Series Produced by 

Ellis Haizlip ... producer (4 episodes, 1968-1972)
Alice Hille ... associate producer (1 episode, 1970)
Anna Maria Horsford ... associate producer (1 episode, 1972)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director 

Bob Hankal ... associate director (1 episode, 1970)

Series Art Department 

John Anthes ... graphic artist (1 episode, 1970)
Craig Devonshire ... graphic art director (1 episode, 1970)
Chris Thee ... settings designed by (1 episode, 1970)

Series Sound Department 

Pranh Hanley ... audio (1 episode, 1970)

Series Camera and Electrical Department 

W.G. Norman ... lighting director (1 episode, 1970)

Series Music Department 

King Curtis ... musical director (1 episode, 1970)
Jerry Lawson ... singer (1 episode, 1971)

Series Additional Crew 

Al Brown ... production associate (1 episode, 1970)
Leonard Chumbley ... technical director (1 episode, 1970)
Theresa Downs ... production secretary (1 episode, 1970)
Robert Evans ... stage manager (1 episode, 1970)
John Haggerty ... unit manager (1 episode, 1970)
Jody Moore ... production associate (1 episode, 1970)
James Nygren ... stage manager (1 epis
Edited by sgcim
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I thought the documentary was very good -- a few issues, but still definitely worth seeing.

This great footage of Bobby Hebb singing Sunny with Ron Carter on electric bass (!) is from the show.

 

 

This clip of M'Boom is also from "Soul."

 

 

Nikki Giovanni interviewing James Baldwin is an amazing two hours of television. 

 

 

Edited by Mark Stryker
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