Tryin To Get Home: a History Of African American Song

Filmed in 1990 at the La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, CA, this one-man show, written and performed by the late Kerrigan Black, is devoted to the history of African American music. Some 17 songs representing several different genres are sung, including "O Freedom" (spiritual), "John Henry" (folk ballad), Scott Joplin's "Something Doing" (ragtime), Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing" (jazz), a medley of Motown hits, "Ya Gotta Know Somethin' Bout History" (rap), and others. Archival film footage and stills are used to powerful effect throughout, especially in the poignant Broadway song "Weary." Too, Black's brief monologues between songs offer historical contexts for the performance. One of the highlights has Black doing a falsetto performance of The Five Satins' classic "In the Still of the Night." Informative and entertaining, this overview of African American music is recommended. (R. Pitman)