It's May 06, 2024, 07:58:02 PM
On August 20, 1972, thousands of people attended a seven-hour concert at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Featuring artists like Isaac Hayes, the Dramatics, The Staple Singers and Rufus Thomas, this extravaganza was called Wattstax, and today is still considered to be a uniquely celebrated moment in American music history. It was a concert that immortalized not only those who came to perform, but also those who came to witness the event and those who live in neighborhoods like Watts. Wattstax wasn’t just about the music, though. Comedian Richard Pryor served as a master of ceremonies for the event, and his often-hilarious insights and observations are largely responsible for Wattstax’s importance and significance years later. In September, 2004, a special neighborhood in New York, will host its own version of Wattstax. Organized and conceived by comedian Dave Chappelle, this “block party” will feature artists like Kanye West, Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, Common, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Dead Prez and The Roots among others with Dave Chappelle serving as the event’s master of ceremonies.Rather than staging this event at a traditional venue, the “block party” will take place in the community itself. A stage will be set up on a neighborhood street in Brooklyn as well as the rooftop of a building overlooking the stage.The concert and the events surrounding the concert will be filmed in a documentary style. This film will establish the importance of the event and capture every aspect of the concert, from the performances on stage to the people attending the neighborhood block party and most importantly the events of the backstage areas as the artists spend time with Dave Chappelle, jam together and participate in the Brooklyn block party.
Home
Help
Login
Register
Print
