For Immediate Release
July 15, 2008
DALLAS/FORT WORTH: From the muddy fields of Woodstock, New York, to the sun-baked shores of Lake Lewisville, Texas, the summer of 1969 marked the beginning of pop music festivals as a cultural phenomenon. In much of the country, rock fueled the imagination of a younger generation, but in South Dallas, funk was King. The music of James Brown, the Meters and Kool and the Gang inspired South Dallas bands like the Soul Seven, Black Maffia and the Apollo Commanders to make music of their own. In June of 1970, two musicians from South Dallas brought these and other bands together in an event that would make local music history. South Dallas Pop, directed and produced by KERA’s Rob Tranchin, tells the fascinating story behind the first and only South Dallas Pop Festival. The program airs Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. on KERA-TV. South Dallas Pop is the latest program to air as part of KERA’s Art&Seek series. Visit www.kera.org/southdallaspop for details.
In the late 1960s, a time when segregation prevented most of Dallas’ black musicians from playing in white areas of town, Roger Boykin and Wendell Sneed shared a vision: to showcase the talent of musicians from their neighborhood in South Dallas to the rest of the city. Encouraged by the success of Woodstock, the Bishop College alums pooled their resources and in June of 1970, the South Dallas Pop Festival was born. The event was conceived as a battle of the bands and featured some of the best talent of the day. Wendell Sneed and Roger Boykin both played on the stage that night, Sneed on drums with the Soul Seven and Boykin on guitar with the Marchel Ivery Quintet. South Dallas Pop features interviews with Boykin and Sneed combined with archival photographs and vintage audio recordings to explore a unique era in Dallas history and follow the careers of two important contributors to the Dallas music scene of today.
ABOUT ART&SEEK
Art&Seek extends the vision of KERA and its President and CEO, Mary Anne Alhadeff. KERA’s Art&Seek initiative harnesses radio, television, Web and educational resources to explore the intersection of arts, journalism and community building. The initiative includes arts reports and commentaries on KERA-FM and special presentations and documentaries on KERA-TV. At artandseek.org, KERA’s arts reporter and contributors present featured content; the Art&Seek blog initiates conversations about the arts in North Texas; and the Art&Seek calendar provides quick and easy information about events, connecting audiences and arts groups. The Art&Seek initiative encourages everyone to find, create, discuss and react to the arts in North Texas. Contact Anne Bothwell, director of Art&Seek, at 214-740-9262 or by email abothwell@kera.org.
ABOUT KERA
KERA is a not-for-profit public broadcasting organization that is independently owned and operated in North Texas. The station’s services include original television and radio productions, national public television and radio programs, online information and resources at www.kera.org and an educational resource center that develops outreach programs for children, families and educators.
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