Who was your first

Perhaps my view and take is somewhat skewed here as I was in the business with CBS/Columbia and knew many of the names menetioned in this thread. Yep old geezer now, but the fire and memories of this time burn very deep. And some of the back water stories I could tell would warrant a book. Most respondents here are not of that era, but I lived a bunch of it first hand. Even in the days of segragation it was always about the music. On many occassions Dave Brubeck would turn down a TV appearance or live concert date, because in the contract they did not want to have Eugene Wright on camera or on stage. Brubeck would not allow this to happen to his friend. Eugene "The Senator" Wright was a valued member of the quartet and deserved as much recognbition as any other member of the quartet. And that is just one instance of long before integration where fellow jazz musicians defended each other. And lets not forget the jazz clubs on the other side where white musicians were not welcome. But through it all in those days it was the jazz musicians the held together and pushed the boundries of humanity against some very steep odds. Thankfully those days are behind us and never to be repeated. Trust me on this the records labels were color blind, once again the focal point was the music and the artist. So in the final analysis good ole american jazz is a multi-culutural affair that has withstood all the obstacles and has become our true art form to enjoy.

"So in the final analysis good ole american jazz is a multi-cultural affair that has withstood all the obstacles and has become our true art form to enjoy."

..and so it has become and I don't think your view is skewed at all, but as I mentioned, the beginnings were difficult and much of the mood of the music in those years expressed those difficulties very clearly. There were more musicians than Brubeck who tried to bridge the gap, win trust, respect and recognition, but it took time.

I recall that Nat King Cole had a 15 minute TV show in the early 50's but that was short lived because no company was willing to stand up and sponsor the show.I also recall that the early group harmony sound prior to do-wop could not be heard on white run radio stations but these hardships are not why Nat Cole's music lives on.It was his talent and talent does not have a color

"And so it has become.........."

And so it has, however I reject the proposition that any discussion of the CULTURAL roots of any music are in some way latent expressions of racism.

Music is what it is. Racism is what it is. They have no relationship to each other. Anyone who understands the history of the world, the nations, and their peoples, appreciates their contribution to where we are to day. Skin color isn't much more than that of geographical accident and evolution.

We should learn to better appreciate the benefits of multi-culturism but not, in order to be PC, exclude discusions of its origins, its developements, its participants and their contributions, as well as personal preferences for music by different performers and cultures at different periods of time.

For example I love the African drumming! Can't really appreciate all of those drum solo's in most jazz....it ain't the same. I love jazz vocalists, especially when it is infused with a natural (culteral perhaps) feeling for the song - emotional, evolving... like Eva Cassidy singing "Wading in the Water (how was that for PC - didn't say of our modern singers, Mary Stallings, Laverne Butler, Rene Marie) I love that style. Is it coincidental that most of the singers of this style are Black. I don't think so, but its not because of their skin, its is IMHO because of their cultural roots of the music.

Some folks listen to Danny Boy and think aim't it beautiful....Some think, ah a protest song by those Irishmen who hated the Englishmen who invaded and oppressed them for so many centuries, I think of Eva Cassidy! Who is right? We are all right, it is beautiful, it was a very sad sad expression of the oppressed, and Eva's version brings tears to my eyes. We are all right and what we have in common is the appreciation of the music, the appreciation of its history, and the appreciation of a great rendition.

I'll get off my box now - excuse the rant.

You guys forgot Kenny G.