May 23, 2013

Chubby Checker, Betty Carter, More Join Recording Registry

betty carter

*Songs from Chubby Checker, Betty Carter, Leontyne Price and Junior Wells were among the 25 audio works newly added to the National Recording Registry, a collection of sound recordings to be preserved as representative of America’s cultural, artistic and historic treasures. The Library of Congress announced the new selections on Thursday (March 21). They include [...]




‘Spook Who Sat By the Door’, More Join National Film Registry

spookwhosatbythedoor

*Director Ivan Dixon’s controversial 1973 movie “The Spook Who Sat by the Door” and the 1914 silent adaptation of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” are among the 25 films selected for inclusion this year in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Congress established the National Film Registry in 1989 to highlight the need to [...]




Donna Summer, Prince, Ex-Slaves Join Recording Registry

1977 Billboard Music Awards

*Rare audio interviews of former slaves and iconic recordings by Donna Summer, Prince, Parliament and the Sugarhill Gang are among the 25 works chosen by the Library of Congress this year as sounds of cultural significance to be preserved permanently in the National Recording Registry. Though Summer died last week of cancer, her 1977 disco [...]




Photos of Child Laborers at the Turn of the 20th Century Changed Laws

child laborers

*When we think of laborers that built this country, the first thought for a lot of us is enslaved Africans. But after slavery, the inhumane practice of using powerless or impoverished individuals to build America’s big business remained. The country consisted of many immigrants and all were trying to find a way to build a [...]




‘Porgy and Bess’, ‘Negro Soldier’ Added to National Film Registry

Dorothy Dandridge and Sidney Poitier in "Porgy and Bess"

*“Porgy and Bess,” the 1959 musical starring Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll and Brock Peters, is among the 25 films chosen to be included this year in the National Film Registry. Directed by Otto Preminger, the film is based on the 1935 opera of the same name by George [...]




22 Years Later Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing’ Still Relevant

mookie

*Do the right thing is a relevant phrase in any context, but Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” has reached an unfortunate milestone of relevance in American culture. The movie’s portrait of race in the urban center of New York was reflective of the nation’s overall racial climate of 1989. (more…)  




Audio: Recording Registry Adds Al Green, Aretha’s Dad, De La Soul

lets-stay-together-by-al-green

*Al Green’s soul classic “Let’s Stay Together,” a sermon from Aretha Franklin’s father and De La Soul’s 1989 album “3 Feet High and Rising” are among 25 new sound recordings selected for preservation by the Library of Congress, organizers announced today. A recording from blues legend Blind Willie Johnson has also made it into the [...]




Tupac’s Mom ‘Touched’ by Son’s National Registry Honor

afeni shakur

*Tupac Shakur’s mother says she’s thrilled that her son’s emotional 1995 track “Dear Mama” has been selected for preservation in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. “I’m incredibly touched,” said Afeni Shakur. “It could have been any song, but I’m honored they chose ‘Dear Mama’ in particular. It is a song that spoke not [...]




Tupac, Cosby, Little Richard Added to Library of Congress

Tupac-Shakur

    *Tupac Shakur’s song “Dear Mama,” Bill Cosby’s second comedy album and a classic from Little Richard are among 25 recordings the Library of Congress is preserving for their cultural significance. Under the terms of 2000′s National Recording Preservation Act, the work must be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and be at least 10 [...]




Thriller Moonwalks into US Film Registry: Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking video one of 25 added to Library of Congress.

michael_jackson(undated-thriller-headshot-med)

*Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” video is among the 25 films inducted Wednesday for preservation in the 2009 National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the world’s largest archive of film, TV and sound recordings. Selection of the 1983 work from director John Landis marks the first music video named to the registry. It had [...]