| LP JACKET VG+++ LIGHT CORNER WEAR TOP AND BOTTOM LEFTLP M-/M-Taifa Records
Catalog#:BBC 3101
Format:
Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1975
Genre:
Funk / Soul
Style:
Tracklist
A1
Black Fairy Meets Johnny
A2
Please Give Me Some Magic
A3
Black Fairy Meets Black Bird
A4
Tell Them They Are Beautiful
A5
Travel To Afrika-Instrumental
A6
Black Fairy Meets Queen Mother
A7
Afrika's My Home
A8
Black Land Of The Nile
A9
Trip To America
A10
Go Down Moses
A11
Did You Feed My Cow
B1
The Streets Of Harlem
B2
Afrikan Children
B3
Black Men Can Be Beautiful
B4
Black Fairy
B5
Eulogy For Black Fairy
B6
Black Fairy Returns
B7
Hey, Black Child
B8
Johnny & Black Fairy
Credits
Backing Vocals -
Barry Ray
,
Denise Llorens
,
Gregory Curry
,
Jerry Johnson
,
Patricia Crawford
,
Rhonada Myers
Bass -
Larry Burton
Drums -
Michael Llorens
Electric Piano -
Anthony Llorens
,
Jerry Johnson
Guitar -
John Llorens
Horns -
Earl "Chico" Freeman
Organ -
Anthony Llorens
Percussion -
Jerry Johnson
Piano -
Jerry Johnson
Producer -
Pemon Rami
Vocals -
Gregory Curry
(tracks: A7, B1)
,
Tony Llorens
(tracks: A10)
Written By -
Eugene Perkins
NotesPersonnel:
Black Fairy-Patricia Crawford,;Black Bird-Denise Llorens; Queen
Mother;-Rhonada "MaseQua" Myers;Uncle Remus-Barry Ray;Johnny-Vincent
Hardman
Black Fairy is a fairy tale, but not in the traditional sense. When
writing this play, i did not want to re-create the types of fantasies
which are so common in Childrens theater. There is no kind of magic
that can relieve black children from the oppression that retards their
development. However, i do feel giving them a better understanding of
their heritage can help them achieve their true potential. And those of
us who are concerned with their development should try to expose them
to knowledge that gives them a positive sense of identity. Although i
do feel a chldren's play should be entertaining, I also feel it should
be educational. Also, because there are so few children's plays which
reflect the black experience, I wanted to write a play that Black
children could identify with.
"Black Fairy" is a musical drama about a black fairy who lacks
pride in herself and feels she has to offer Black children. But when
she meets Black Bird and Queen Mother (Who take her to ancient Egypt,
East Afrika, a southern slave plantation and the streets of Harlem) she
begins toget a better understanding of her heritage. Her journey
through the past enables Black Fairy to meet Aesop, Brer Rabbit, Brer
Fox, Uncle Remus, Stag-o-lee, Leadbelly and many other characters in
Black folklore and Black history. At the end of her journey, Black
fairy realizes that "Being Black is nothing to be ashamed of" and is
then able to share her knowledge with other Black children. Even though
Black Fairy doesn't completely resolve her dilemma, having a knowledge
of her heritage does give her more confidence to cope with the future.
It is only fair to mention that "Black Fairy" would never have
come to life if it were not for the creative directorsip of Pemon Rami
and the music composed by Tony Llorens and Jerry Johnson. These people,
more than anyone else, have made Black fairy the success it has become.
I also feel that without the full support of Better Boys Foundation and
its Board of Directors, The production and this album would not have
been possible.
"Black Fairy" was the second play at the Lamont Zeno Community
Theater, a cltural program of the Better Boys Foundationm a family
agency located in North Lawndale in Chicago. Many of the yougsters who
perform in the play are members of our Youth Theater Developmen Program
which is partially funded by the National Endowment For The Arts. Under
the capable guidance of Pemon Rami and his staff, we were able to take
youngsters who had no previous theater experience and train them to
become competent performers and also teach themother technical theater
skills. The result of this effort has mad "Black Fairy" a favorite
among both children and adults who have had an opportunity to see it.
During ther summer of 1974 "Black Fairy" was performed for over four
thousand children in Chicago. And, in April of 1975, it played to over
two thousand children in Detroit at Mercy College.
"Black Fairy" is the only the first of many children's plays we
hope to produce at the Better Boys Foundation. There is an Afrikan
proverb which says:"Children are the reward of life". We at Better Boys
Foundationm are dedicated to this belief, and feel that helping
childrren to appreciate their heritage is one means of showing our
concern for their development. Asante Sana Eugene (Useni) Perkins.
Record Cover designed by Barbara Jones Hogu. Recorded at PF Studios,
Chicago, Illinois. |
