January 31, 2025 • 26 mins
Great musicians aren’t just born knowing how to play their instruments. On today’s episode, Nimene learns about one of the greatest music teachers of all time, jazz musician Samuel Rodney Browne, who broke the color barrier for Black teachers in the secondary schools of Los Angeles. Featuring an interview between modern-day jazz legend Kamasi Washington and a saxophonist in the 6th grade named Elijah.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Nimini here, host of historical records. Get ready to hear
about a historical hero through hip hop. Also, parents and teachers.
You can download a free activity related to today's episode
by visiting story pirates dot com.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Slash Historical Records, and now onto the show.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
After a few words for the grown ups, game leave Phil,
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Everyone, Ash. We don't want to wake the babies.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Could we go in and meet them? Yet?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I'm hyped, Phil, You're always hyped.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
This is different. I have a reason to be hype
that's driven from the heart.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Niminy, I'm hyped too, and you know me. I'm generally
a very chill guy.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
That's true, Gabe Niminy.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Historically speaking, this may be the most hyped I've been
in a decade.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
That's so sweet and factual. World, Just up.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
When can we go in and meet our new family members?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Not yet, but very soon? Okay? Tell us when?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Tell us when?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Tell us when?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Okay, okay, Well head inside as soon as I tell
our listeners what is going on?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
The good call.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And for the record, I am super fired up. I
guess now we know what it would be like if
we were all fill.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I'm hyped all the time. I've even hired for you.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
To fill in the listeners on the big news.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Hi, listeners, as you've just heard, we have some colossally
huge news around here.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Tina's the Raccoon had seven babies.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Now let's all go into the nursery and meet them.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Historical Records.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You are now listening to Historical To make history, you
got to have struggles to make history.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You got the show toys cannot be quiet, loud as a.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Riot to make history, you gotta make some noise.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Welcome to the Historical Records, where we conduct highly experimental
experiments combining.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
History and hip hop.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Today's episode is about an incredible musician and teacher named
Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
And we'llcome to that soon. Just after we meet Tina
the raccoons seven new babies.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Come on, well, hi to see them now, all right, I'll.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Just poke my head in and ask Tina if it's
a good time. Hey, Tina, is it okay? If we coming? O?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Great?
Speaker 1 (02:46):
They're all away. Come on in, everyone we go.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Uncle Gabe is on the scene.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Look at those perfect angels. These kiddos are so cute.
How are you feeling? You should be proud nervous. What
are you nervous about?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
You?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
That's true, there's a lot of kids, but all of
us could help out.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Absolutely, we'd love to.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Who wouldn't want to hang with these little guys?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
You know the old saying it takes a village to
raise a gaze of raccoons?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
He Beny, why are you talking about the gaze of
the raccoons? The baby's okay, they can't focus the little
lies yet.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
No, no, Phil, a gaze is what you call a
group of raccoons?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
What Phil's been educated?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Okay, anyway, Tina, we're here to help, but Phil and Lee,
perhaps you could be the first.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
To help out. Gabe and I have a date with history.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
I honestly thought you'd never ask.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
We're on it. Okay, Gabe, let's hit it. Wait where
is Gabe?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Looks like he's taking that grand piano for a walk.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Gabe, do you get the baby's a grand piano?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Not quite? This is today's simulator.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
That makes way more sense. Okay, friends, we will be
back soon. Congrats again, Tina, We are so excited me.
Phil and Lee, thanks for helping out with the kids.
It's our greatest honor.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Give me my gaze trained on this gaze of raccoons.
Learn that.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
All right, Gabe, how do we get the simulator to work?
Speaker 4 (04:23):
I just have to play the right notes.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
He found the right notes.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Welcome to nineteen twenty. We're in Los Angeles on Central Avenue,
in the heart of black Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Oh, what a lovely Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Hey, how'd you know it was a Sunday?
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Everyone on this street is wearing their Sunday bests.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
You're getting good at this, I know.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Hey, look there are.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Five enormous pianos on the front lawn of that house.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
And now there's a crowd for me.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
See that super dapper man wearing a cape and white gloves,
who's raising his golden cane?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Is that Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Actually no, it's William T. Wilkins. He's a local music
legend and a piano teacher with his very own conservatory.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
My five star students, take your seats.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
See the kid at the piano on the left, that's
an eleven year old Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
So before Samuel Rodney Brown became a great teacher, he
had a great teacher.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Inspiration begets more inspiration.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
Listen to this, Okay, Samuel, you're up first. Let's show
this audience what you got, shall we for you must
learn to perform for your community, and you must learn
to make mistakes in public. Now showcase your talent, share
your art.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Cave.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
This front yard concert is so cool.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
I agree, and there were plenty of them. In fact,
William T. Wilkins mentored Samuel for ten years.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Samuel is playing Wagner and Verity. That stuff is really
hard to play.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
His teacher thought it was important to learn to play
the classics.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Of course, I just don't normally think about playing the
classics in this kind of environment.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
There's cars, honking, dogs barking, crowds yelling.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
William says, it's an exercise in blocking out the distraction.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Ooo.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Here comes the big finish.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Thank you for coming everyone. Now it's time to give
out the medals.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Gabe.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
He gives the kids medals gold, silver, and bronze based
on the performance. He liked to create a healthy competition
and have it feel like a celebration of practice and
hard work.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Oh, it's pretty awesome. Why is he giving Samuel a dollar? Ooh?
Speaker 4 (06:48):
If you play passionately enough that you break a piano string,
you get a dollar.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I wish William I taught me piano when I was eleven.
I mostly learned from videos online and my only reward
was having to watch the.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Ads between lessons.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Times have really changed. Speaking of which, let's change time.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Where are we now?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Welcome to Jefferson High School. This is where Samuel Rodney
Brown went.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
There are so many kids at this school. Are we
still in La yep?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Jefferson is in the heart of south central Los Angeles
and the year is nineteen thirty six, Gape.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I can't help but notice that all the students here
are black, and it looks like most of the teachers
are white.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
That is correct, but not all the teachers are whitey.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Look at all the kids gathering around that one classroom
where music is coming from.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
That must be the music room.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Indeed it is, and I think you'll recognize the teacher.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
As you can see, the kids absolutely love him, and
his school band is the pride of Jefferson High.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That's so cool.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Look, he maybe the most popular teacher I've ever seen
at of high school.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
But he almost didn't get the job. Really, Yeah, let's
stay at Jefferson, but go back in time, just a
little bit to check it out.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Oh, looks like we're in the teacher's lounge now.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
As you can see, this is back when all the
teachers were white.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
What are they discussing? Everyone seems pretty upset.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
They're talking about whether or not Samuel Rodney Brown should
be allowed to be a teacher here.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
That is crazy.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
He's beyond qualified for the job, and he went here
as a kid.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Absolutely, but it was controversial because he would have to
break the color barrier. He would be the first ever
black teacher at Jefferson and in the entire Los Angeles
Unified School district.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
That's incredible. How did he do it?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
He used a form of activism called petitioning, and he
managed to get over fifty signatures from the community endorsing
his appointment to be the music teacher.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
I see.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And once he got those signatures, he was accepted.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Not exactly. Even with so many people supporting him, some
white teachers were so unhappy to work with him that
they put in their papers to transfer to a new school.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
That's so messed.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Up, very much so. And the pressure was high on
Samuel Rodney Brown to perform in public, just like in
the old days on Central AB at the Sunday afternoon recitals.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
Samuel Rodney Brown, please come to the office of the
assistant to Superintendent Gabe.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
That doesn't sound like a very fun meeting.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
What did the assistant superintendent say to Samuel?
Speaker 4 (09:37):
He told him you got the job finally, but that
he would have to do the work of three white men.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
That is so unfair, It's horrible.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
But Samuel was not deterred at all because he was
so talented, such a hard worker, and so dedicated to
his students.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
And constantly impressing them with his musical knowledge as we saw.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
But I have a question.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Nowadays it's so easy to check out new music, but
how would someone like Samuel stay up on new things
coming out?
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Niminy, You cannot believe how well you just set up
the transition to our next piece of history.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Oh I can't believe it. I'm very talented too.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
And speaking of which, this time I'm gonna play us
to the next time in location.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Please do We're headed to nineteen forty. Welcome to one
of the coolest after hours clubs in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Gay This club is off the hook, a little smoky,
but pretty.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Groovery as they'd say nice nineteen forty slang use thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Also, everyone is getting along so well.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Weren't most places still segregated in nineteen forty.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
After hours clubs At this time, we're almost secretive places
where blacks and whites could mingle over their shared love
of jazz.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
And look, there's Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Right on the stage in the middle of it all.
To answer your question from before, this is how he
kept up with the times. He would travel to all
the jazz clubs. You see, before you could get new
music on your phone, you would have to travel. Irl,
that makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
And who are those people he's talking to?
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Well, that guy over there in the single breasted suit
is nat King Cole. And the gentleman seated at the
piano as Duke Ellington.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Incredible.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
And wait a minute, is that glamorous woman who was
about to sing ethel Waters?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
You bet she is my actual favorite?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
My goodnesscape, this is wild.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I can't believe Samuel Rodney Brown is just casually playing
jazz and Robert Shoulders with the greats of his time.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
I know, And how does he have the time? It's
kind of like Samuel Rodney Brown never slept.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Must have been.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Pretty neat for Samuel's students to know that their teacher
was playing with the most famous musicians of the time.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And he didn't just play jazz with them late night
in the clubs where the kids weren't allowed. Everyone respected
him so much. These jazz titans would actually come to
Jefferson High School and play with him in the auditorium
and talk to the kids.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
What that's the.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Equivalent today of getting Beyonce or Billie Eilish to swing
by your high school.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Can you imagine?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
It's got me looking so crazy right now.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I see what you did there.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Samuel Rodney Brown walked that walk.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Huh totally, and many of his students went on to
become jazz stars in their own right.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
He was so incredibly generous with his talents.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
He once said he learned from an older gospel singer
from the era. If you have a kindness shown, pass
it on. That mantra influenced Samuel Rodney Brown greatly.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Gabe, thank you, this has been extremely informative.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
That is very good to hear, because I aim to inform.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Mission accomplished good sir.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Also diving into the life of Samuel Rodney Brown has
given me an idea about our growing simile in the bunker.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Ooh say more.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Unfortunately, and there's no time to tell you. Now I
have to race off to turn this history into a song.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
You certainly don't want to be late for that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
No way, a musician must be on time if they
have any hope of being in time.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
Shall I do the honors and beam us to the studio.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Let's do Itcape, I'll see you on the other side. Listeners,
It's time for the life of Samuel Rodney Brown to
turn into a historical record.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
And once again nimony is on the mic.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Wanta Tanta tantae ony w.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
This is the story of Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
He was one of three black teachers able to teach
in nineteen thirty six after he broke the color barrier
for two He grew up in south central California, so
the piano at seven years old.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
As he was growing up, jazz was up and coming.
Speaker 8 (14:10):
He liked that.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Along with classic gold.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
They try to tell him me good and play the classics,
cousin Jim Crow, but it's music.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
How can you segregate?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
He played it all until the January shirt each once
each one getting in your head music not just from years,
for you and you and them, because when each one,
each one, community is fat, that's a legacy.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
The Samuel Andy Brown last he conducted the orchestra you
know it.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
And he's ont six classes a day, twelve hour days.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
He two no breaks one day.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
The students will be better than by titles and the
teacher's front yard head, Oh the piano to the front
yard had people would come out just to hear him
play and anything that that's come he could play from that.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Each one, each one get it in your head music
not from me, It's for.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You and you and that because when each one, each one,
community is fat, that's a legacy.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
The samurai around that, each one, each one get it
in your head. He fucked the jazz ban to be
and look curriculum. He went to school to school. He
was gotta students. That's a legacy.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
The samurai around that. He bre local st class teacher,
students bout the craft. He paid his way through USC
and got music and edegrees, had to get fifty signatures
to even be allowed to teach. He was always looking
(15:45):
nice from his head.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
To his feet.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Feed feed, feed, each one, each one getting in your head.
Music not just funny is for you and you and them,
because when each one, each one, community is fat, that's
a legacy.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
The Samuel Runny Brown. Each one, each.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
One get it in your head.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Jazzy something. He went to school to school. He was
got these guys. That's the legaee the same, You're Ronny Brown.
Each one's each one get it in your head.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Music not just funny is for you on you on them,
because when each one, each one, community is fat, that's
a legacy. The Samuel Honey Brown. We'll be right back
after a few words for the grown ups. Okay, listeners,
(16:50):
time to check in on Tina and her kids.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Tina, how you go with the kids today? Oh? It
went great? That's crazy. Phil really took the lead.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Phil is tired, Phil wore himself out.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Well that's the first Tina. How are you mean your
ear's hurt?
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Mean?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Of course? Phil, talk the kids to you, Oh, gay
little friends.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Let Joe nimine what we learned? Woof the best fearless
leader we know.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Whe.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Seed and so loud.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
How is your adventure Nimini? Totally amazing? Thank you for asking.
In fact, it gave me an idea that would involve everyone. Ooh,
we're all ears ask Tina expressed.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Keeping these little guys engaged all day is quite a lot,
and it got me thinking, what if we start a
little school for the kiddos.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
It's a lot of idea.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It will keep the kids occupied, and also we can
learn from each other. Everyone in the.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Bunker has such different talents. Phil could teach the kids
how to stay pumped.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Oh yeah, Gabe and Lee. He could teach the kid's history.
I love it. I call the Tudor period. And I
can teach the music of course like this, follow after me, kids.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Do ray me fa so louty. To be honest, that
went better than I thought it would.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Tina, what do you think? No, I knew you'd love it.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Wait, Niminy, Yes, Gabe, could I maybe teach the first
history lesson right now?
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That's perfect because I have to head off to an interview.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
What will you be teaching a history of garbage and
food waste? Yeah? I had a feeling this lesson would
go over well.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Okay, Tea, I'll see you shortly.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
I'm off to chat with Elijah and Kamassie Washington.
Speaker 9 (18:51):
Hello, Kalassi, Heyah, Nice to meet you.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
Nice to meet you too.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Hi, Elijah and Kamasi, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
My name is Elijah, I'm eleven years old and I
live in Los Angeles, California. I have learned to play
the piano, recorder, guitar, and saxophone.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
My name is Camasi Washington. I'm a saxophonist, composer, producer,
and ranger. And uh yeah, good to be here.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
I'm so excited to have you both here. Elijah, let's
start with your first question.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
When did you first learn you had a thing for music.
Speaker 9 (19:27):
You know, I'm a second generation musician, so music has
kind of always been in my life. But I can
tell you when I felt like I wanted to take
music seriously. I was in ninth grade and there's a
great teacher who passed away, Reggie Andrews. He was also
my dad's teacher, and he started a group called the
Multi School Jazz Band. Before that, I went to a
(19:48):
music high school and I was pretty good, but I
wasn't necessarily practicing that hard. And when I went to
go play in the Multi School Jazz Band, those kids
were serious. They sounded like the records and I still
kind of sounded like a kid, and we ended up
playing the Playboy Jazz Festival. But then, like the first
few weeks of me joining that band, you know, so
we're playing in front of seventeen thousand people. So I
(20:11):
figured at this big show, he's not gonna give me
a solo now because I don't even take I was
in the rehearsal. But you know, Reggie Andrews was a
master teacher, he was a master motivator, and so from
all those people, I'll never forget it. We were playing
red Clay and he pointed at me, and I did
my best, but I wasn't satisfied with where I was at.
So I was like, I'm a practice real hard and
next time he pointed at me and be ready, and
(20:33):
from there on I really took music. Seriously.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
I love that story.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
It makes me wonder, Elijah, what's the moment that had
an impact on you as a young saxophone player.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Our school had a performance and I had a solo.
I think I was playing can Can in front of
like Stevie Wonder because his daughter goes to my school,
so he was there in the audience. That's cool, and
I feel like I could have done better, but I
(21:05):
did what I could at the moment.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Wow, that's amazing, Elijah. Do you have any questions for
Kumasi about Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
How did you first hear about him?
Speaker 9 (21:15):
You know, I'm fortunate about My father is a music teacher,
my mother is a science teacher. And I grew up
in a community that really held the ideal of kind
of each one teach one like passing on the knowledge
from one generation to the next. That notion is something
that makes our music more than just a profession or
even just an art form. And so Samuel Brown is
(21:38):
a bit of a legend amongst that community.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
How has mister Brown inspired you?
Speaker 9 (21:44):
I would say that he's inspired me to look at
my music not just as something that serves me or
my wants or desires, but it's also a means of me,
you know, being a part of a community that can
help others. Samuel Brown's footprint, his work echoes as echoing
into the centuries after. Anyone who dedicates themselves to education
(22:07):
should look at someone like him and feel proud that
you are walking into his footsteps, because you know, you
just never know who that person is that you're giving
these these gems of wisdom to and what that person.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
May do with them.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
You know, this conversation helps me reflect on everything we've
learned about Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Today, and it's making me think about how his legacy
lives on. Thank you both so much for being here.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Thank you, Chaussie.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I really enjoyed this.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Opportunity to meet you.
Speaker 9 (22:33):
I'm on to meet you. I can't wait to hear
you play.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Listeners, we should probably check in on our brand new
bunker school and see how it's going.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Hey, Gabe, let it go.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Not to brag, but the lesson on the history of
garbage was a smash, partially because there is genuinely interesting
stuff to learn about food waste, but mostly because the
kids got to eat a ton of garbage throughout the lesson.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
It was roast to watch.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Respectfully, Phil, you were not my target audience. Maybe next
lesson we can examine the history of hype.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Now you're speaking my language, Tina.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
It looks like you enjoyed Gabe's lesson. Read good call, Tina,
looks like naptime. Indeed, I see you set up a
big mattress already.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
That means it's time for a family snuggle.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Fire Feel is in for a naptime.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Here we go.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Let everybody jump in joke.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Oh you're laying on my head here nice Lalla Bye Tina.
The kids are asleep. Everyone stay cozy. I'm just gonna
sneak out and chat with our listeners.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Listeners, thanks for joining in today and for going on
a journey with me to learn about Sam You and
Rodney Brown. A huge thanks to today's guests, Camasi Washington
and kid interviewer Elijah. We'll be back next week with
another episode, another song, and another hero. Until then, remember
to make history, you gotta make some noise.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Bye.
Speaker 7 (24:29):
Historical Records is produced in partnership with Story Pirate Studios,
Questlove's two on five Entertainment, John Glickman and iHeart Podcasts
Executive produced by Emir Questlove Thompson, John Glickman, Lee Overtree
and Benjamin Salka. Executive produced for iHeart Podcasts by Noel Brown.
(24:50):
Producers for Story Pirate Studios are Isabella Riccio, Sam Bear,
Eric Gerson, Andrew Miller, Lee Overtree, Peter McNerney and Niminy Ware.
Producers for two one five are Sean G. Britney, Benjamin
and Zarah Zolman, hosted by niminy Ware. Our head writer
is Duke Doyle. Our historians are Gabe Pacheco and Lee Polus.
(25:12):
Music supervision for two one five by Stroe Elliott. Scoring
and music supervision for Story Pirate Studios by Eric Erson.
Sound designed and mixing by Sam Bear at the Relic
Room in New York City. Additional recording by Brett Tuban,
song mastering by Josh Hahn. Theme song by Dan Foster
and Eric Gerson and produced by Eric Erson. Production coordination
(25:33):
by Isabelle Riccio. Production management by Maggie Lee. The line
producer for Story Pirate Studios is Glennis Brault. Pr for
Story Pirate Studios is provided by Naomi Shaw. Episode artwork
by Camilla Franklin. This episode was written by Duke Doyle.
The song Samuel Rodney Brown was written by niminy Ware,
produced by Stroe Elliott and Associate produced and vocal directed
(25:57):
by Eric Gerson. Special guests Kamasi Wa Washington and Kid
interviewer Elijah. This episode features performances by Langston Darby, Peter McNerney,
Lee Overtree, Gabe Pacheco, and Lee Polos.
Hi listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Nimini here, host of historical records. Get ready to hear
about a historical hero through hip hop. Also, parents and teachers.
You can download a free activity related to today's episode
by visiting story pirates dot com.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Slash Historical Records, and now onto the show.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
After a few words for the grown ups, game leave Phil,
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Everyone, Ash. We don't want to wake the babies.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Could we go in and meet them? Yet?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
I'm hyped, Phil, You're always hyped.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
This is different. I have a reason to be hype
that's driven from the heart.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Niminy, I'm hyped too, and you know me. I'm generally
a very chill guy.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
That's true, Gabe Niminy.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Historically speaking, this may be the most hyped I've been
in a decade.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
That's so sweet and factual. World, Just up.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
When can we go in and meet our new family members?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Not yet, but very soon? Okay? Tell us when?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Tell us when?
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Tell us when?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Okay, okay, Well head inside as soon as I tell
our listeners what is going on?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
The good call.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And for the record, I am super fired up. I
guess now we know what it would be like if
we were all fill.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I'm hyped all the time. I've even hired for you.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
To fill in the listeners on the big news.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Hi, listeners, as you've just heard, we have some colossally
huge news around here.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Tina's the Raccoon had seven babies.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Now let's all go into the nursery and meet them.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Historical Records.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You are now listening to Historical To make history, you
got to have struggles to make history.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
You got the show toys cannot be quiet, loud as a.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Riot to make history, you gotta make some noise.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Welcome to the Historical Records, where we conduct highly experimental
experiments combining.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
History and hip hop.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Today's episode is about an incredible musician and teacher named
Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
And we'llcome to that soon. Just after we meet Tina
the raccoons seven new babies.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Come on, well, hi to see them now, all right, I'll.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Just poke my head in and ask Tina if it's
a good time. Hey, Tina, is it okay? If we coming? O?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Great?
Speaker 1 (02:46):
They're all away. Come on in, everyone we go.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Uncle Gabe is on the scene.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Look at those perfect angels. These kiddos are so cute.
How are you feeling? You should be proud nervous. What
are you nervous about?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
You?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
That's true, there's a lot of kids, but all of
us could help out.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Absolutely, we'd love to.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Who wouldn't want to hang with these little guys?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
You know the old saying it takes a village to
raise a gaze of raccoons?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
He Beny, why are you talking about the gaze of
the raccoons? The baby's okay, they can't focus the little
lies yet.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
No, no, Phil, a gaze is what you call a
group of raccoons?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
What Phil's been educated?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Okay, anyway, Tina, we're here to help, but Phil and Lee,
perhaps you could be the first.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
To help out. Gabe and I have a date with history.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
I honestly thought you'd never ask.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
We're on it. Okay, Gabe, let's hit it. Wait where
is Gabe?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Looks like he's taking that grand piano for a walk.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Gabe, do you get the baby's a grand piano?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Not quite? This is today's simulator.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
That makes way more sense. Okay, friends, we will be
back soon. Congrats again, Tina, We are so excited me.
Phil and Lee, thanks for helping out with the kids.
It's our greatest honor.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Give me my gaze trained on this gaze of raccoons.
Learn that.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
All right, Gabe, how do we get the simulator to work?
Speaker 4 (04:23):
I just have to play the right notes.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
He found the right notes.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Welcome to nineteen twenty. We're in Los Angeles on Central Avenue,
in the heart of black Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Oh, what a lovely Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Hey, how'd you know it was a Sunday?
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Everyone on this street is wearing their Sunday bests.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
You're getting good at this, I know.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Hey, look there are.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Five enormous pianos on the front lawn of that house.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
And now there's a crowd for me.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
See that super dapper man wearing a cape and white gloves,
who's raising his golden cane?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Is that Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Actually no, it's William T. Wilkins. He's a local music
legend and a piano teacher with his very own conservatory.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
My five star students, take your seats.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
See the kid at the piano on the left, that's
an eleven year old Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
So before Samuel Rodney Brown became a great teacher, he
had a great teacher.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Inspiration begets more inspiration.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
Listen to this, Okay, Samuel, you're up first. Let's show
this audience what you got, shall we for you must
learn to perform for your community, and you must learn
to make mistakes in public. Now showcase your talent, share
your art.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Cave.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
This front yard concert is so cool.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
I agree, and there were plenty of them. In fact,
William T. Wilkins mentored Samuel for ten years.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Samuel is playing Wagner and Verity. That stuff is really
hard to play.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
His teacher thought it was important to learn to play
the classics.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Of course, I just don't normally think about playing the
classics in this kind of environment.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
There's cars, honking, dogs barking, crowds yelling.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
William says, it's an exercise in blocking out the distraction.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Ooo.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Here comes the big finish.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Thank you for coming everyone. Now it's time to give
out the medals.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Gabe.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
He gives the kids medals gold, silver, and bronze based
on the performance. He liked to create a healthy competition
and have it feel like a celebration of practice and
hard work.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Oh, it's pretty awesome. Why is he giving Samuel a dollar? Ooh?
Speaker 4 (06:48):
If you play passionately enough that you break a piano string,
you get a dollar.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I wish William I taught me piano when I was eleven.
I mostly learned from videos online and my only reward
was having to watch the.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Ads between lessons.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Times have really changed. Speaking of which, let's change time.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Where are we now?
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Welcome to Jefferson High School. This is where Samuel Rodney
Brown went.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
There are so many kids at this school. Are we
still in La yep?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Jefferson is in the heart of south central Los Angeles
and the year is nineteen thirty six, Gape.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I can't help but notice that all the students here
are black, and it looks like most of the teachers
are white.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
That is correct, but not all the teachers are whitey.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Look at all the kids gathering around that one classroom
where music is coming from.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
That must be the music room.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Indeed it is, and I think you'll recognize the teacher.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
As you can see, the kids absolutely love him, and
his school band is the pride of Jefferson High.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
That's so cool.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Look, he maybe the most popular teacher I've ever seen
at of high school.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
But he almost didn't get the job. Really, Yeah, let's
stay at Jefferson, but go back in time, just a
little bit to check it out.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Oh, looks like we're in the teacher's lounge now.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
As you can see, this is back when all the
teachers were white.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
What are they discussing? Everyone seems pretty upset.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
They're talking about whether or not Samuel Rodney Brown should
be allowed to be a teacher here.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
That is crazy.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
He's beyond qualified for the job, and he went here
as a kid.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Absolutely, but it was controversial because he would have to
break the color barrier. He would be the first ever
black teacher at Jefferson and in the entire Los Angeles
Unified School district.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
That's incredible. How did he do it?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
He used a form of activism called petitioning, and he
managed to get over fifty signatures from the community endorsing
his appointment to be the music teacher.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
I see.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And once he got those signatures, he was accepted.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Not exactly. Even with so many people supporting him, some
white teachers were so unhappy to work with him that
they put in their papers to transfer to a new school.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
That's so messed.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Up, very much so. And the pressure was high on
Samuel Rodney Brown to perform in public, just like in
the old days on Central AB at the Sunday afternoon recitals.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
Samuel Rodney Brown, please come to the office of the
assistant to Superintendent Gabe.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
That doesn't sound like a very fun meeting.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
What did the assistant superintendent say to Samuel?
Speaker 4 (09:37):
He told him you got the job finally, but that
he would have to do the work of three white men.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
That is so unfair, It's horrible.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
But Samuel was not deterred at all because he was
so talented, such a hard worker, and so dedicated to
his students.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
And constantly impressing them with his musical knowledge as we saw.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
But I have a question.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Nowadays it's so easy to check out new music, but
how would someone like Samuel stay up on new things
coming out?
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Niminy, You cannot believe how well you just set up
the transition to our next piece of history.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Oh I can't believe it. I'm very talented too.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
And speaking of which, this time I'm gonna play us
to the next time in location.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Please do We're headed to nineteen forty. Welcome to one
of the coolest after hours clubs in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Gay This club is off the hook, a little smoky,
but pretty.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Groovery as they'd say nice nineteen forty slang use thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Also, everyone is getting along so well.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Weren't most places still segregated in nineteen forty.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
After hours clubs At this time, we're almost secretive places
where blacks and whites could mingle over their shared love
of jazz.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
And look, there's Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Right on the stage in the middle of it all.
To answer your question from before, this is how he
kept up with the times. He would travel to all
the jazz clubs. You see, before you could get new
music on your phone, you would have to travel. Irl,
that makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
And who are those people he's talking to?
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Well, that guy over there in the single breasted suit
is nat King Cole. And the gentleman seated at the
piano as Duke Ellington.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Incredible.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
And wait a minute, is that glamorous woman who was
about to sing ethel Waters?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
You bet she is my actual favorite?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
My goodnesscape, this is wild.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I can't believe Samuel Rodney Brown is just casually playing
jazz and Robert Shoulders with the greats of his time.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
I know, And how does he have the time? It's
kind of like Samuel Rodney Brown never slept.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Must have been.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Pretty neat for Samuel's students to know that their teacher
was playing with the most famous musicians of the time.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And he didn't just play jazz with them late night
in the clubs where the kids weren't allowed. Everyone respected
him so much. These jazz titans would actually come to
Jefferson High School and play with him in the auditorium
and talk to the kids.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
What that's the.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Equivalent today of getting Beyonce or Billie Eilish to swing
by your high school.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Can you imagine?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
It's got me looking so crazy right now.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
I see what you did there.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Samuel Rodney Brown walked that walk.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Huh totally, and many of his students went on to
become jazz stars in their own right.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
He was so incredibly generous with his talents.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
He once said he learned from an older gospel singer
from the era. If you have a kindness shown, pass
it on. That mantra influenced Samuel Rodney Brown greatly.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Gabe, thank you, this has been extremely informative.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
That is very good to hear, because I aim to inform.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Mission accomplished good sir.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Also diving into the life of Samuel Rodney Brown has
given me an idea about our growing simile in the bunker.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Ooh say more.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Unfortunately, and there's no time to tell you. Now I
have to race off to turn this history into a song.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
You certainly don't want to be late for that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
No way, a musician must be on time if they
have any hope of being in time.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
Shall I do the honors and beam us to the studio.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Let's do Itcape, I'll see you on the other side. Listeners,
It's time for the life of Samuel Rodney Brown to
turn into a historical record.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
And once again nimony is on the mic.
Speaker 8 (13:39):
Wanta Tanta tantae ony w.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
This is the story of Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
He was one of three black teachers able to teach
in nineteen thirty six after he broke the color barrier
for two He grew up in south central California, so
the piano at seven years old.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
As he was growing up, jazz was up and coming.
Speaker 8 (14:10):
He liked that.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Along with classic gold.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
They try to tell him me good and play the classics,
cousin Jim Crow, but it's music.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
How can you segregate?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
He played it all until the January shirt each once
each one getting in your head music not just from years,
for you and you and them, because when each one,
each one, community is fat, that's a legacy.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
The Samuel Andy Brown last he conducted the orchestra you
know it.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
And he's ont six classes a day, twelve hour days.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
He two no breaks one day.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
The students will be better than by titles and the
teacher's front yard head, Oh the piano to the front
yard had people would come out just to hear him
play and anything that that's come he could play from that.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Each one, each one get it in your head music
not from me, It's for.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You and you and that because when each one, each one,
community is fat, that's a legacy.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
The samurai around that, each one, each one get it
in your head. He fucked the jazz ban to be
and look curriculum. He went to school to school. He
was gotta students. That's a legacy.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
The samurai around that. He bre local st class teacher,
students bout the craft. He paid his way through USC
and got music and edegrees, had to get fifty signatures
to even be allowed to teach. He was always looking
(15:45):
nice from his head.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
To his feet.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Feed feed, feed, each one, each one getting in your head.
Music not just funny is for you and you and them,
because when each one, each one, community is fat, that's
a legacy.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
The Samuel Runny Brown. Each one, each.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
One get it in your head.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Jazzy something. He went to school to school. He was
got these guys. That's the legaee the same, You're Ronny Brown.
Each one's each one get it in your head.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Music not just funny is for you on you on them,
because when each one, each one, community is fat, that's
a legacy. The Samuel Honey Brown. We'll be right back
after a few words for the grown ups. Okay, listeners,
(16:50):
time to check in on Tina and her kids.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Tina, how you go with the kids today? Oh? It
went great? That's crazy. Phil really took the lead.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Phil is tired, Phil wore himself out.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Well that's the first Tina. How are you mean your
ear's hurt?
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Mean?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Of course? Phil, talk the kids to you, Oh, gay
little friends.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Let Joe nimine what we learned? Woof the best fearless
leader we know.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Whe.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Seed and so loud.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
How is your adventure Nimini? Totally amazing? Thank you for asking.
In fact, it gave me an idea that would involve everyone. Ooh,
we're all ears ask Tina expressed.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Keeping these little guys engaged all day is quite a lot,
and it got me thinking, what if we start a
little school for the kiddos.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
It's a lot of idea.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It will keep the kids occupied, and also we can
learn from each other. Everyone in the.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Bunker has such different talents. Phil could teach the kids
how to stay pumped.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Oh yeah, Gabe and Lee. He could teach the kid's history.
I love it. I call the Tudor period. And I
can teach the music of course like this, follow after me, kids.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Do ray me fa so louty. To be honest, that
went better than I thought it would.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Tina, what do you think? No, I knew you'd love it.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Wait, Niminy, Yes, Gabe, could I maybe teach the first
history lesson right now?
Speaker 1 (18:34):
That's perfect because I have to head off to an interview.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
What will you be teaching a history of garbage and
food waste? Yeah? I had a feeling this lesson would
go over well.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Okay, Tea, I'll see you shortly.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
I'm off to chat with Elijah and Kamassie Washington.
Speaker 9 (18:51):
Hello, Kalassi, Heyah, Nice to meet you.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
Nice to meet you too.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Hi, Elijah and Kamasi, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
My name is Elijah, I'm eleven years old and I
live in Los Angeles, California. I have learned to play
the piano, recorder, guitar, and saxophone.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
My name is Camasi Washington. I'm a saxophonist, composer, producer,
and ranger. And uh yeah, good to be here.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
I'm so excited to have you both here. Elijah, let's
start with your first question.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
When did you first learn you had a thing for music.
Speaker 9 (19:27):
You know, I'm a second generation musician, so music has
kind of always been in my life. But I can
tell you when I felt like I wanted to take
music seriously. I was in ninth grade and there's a
great teacher who passed away, Reggie Andrews. He was also
my dad's teacher, and he started a group called the
Multi School Jazz Band. Before that, I went to a
(19:48):
music high school and I was pretty good, but I
wasn't necessarily practicing that hard. And when I went to
go play in the Multi School Jazz Band, those kids
were serious. They sounded like the records and I still
kind of sounded like a kid, and we ended up
playing the Playboy Jazz Festival. But then, like the first
few weeks of me joining that band, you know, so
we're playing in front of seventeen thousand people. So I
(20:11):
figured at this big show, he's not gonna give me
a solo now because I don't even take I was
in the rehearsal. But you know, Reggie Andrews was a
master teacher, he was a master motivator, and so from
all those people, I'll never forget it. We were playing
red Clay and he pointed at me, and I did
my best, but I wasn't satisfied with where I was at.
So I was like, I'm a practice real hard and
next time he pointed at me and be ready, and
(20:33):
from there on I really took music. Seriously.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
I love that story.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
It makes me wonder, Elijah, what's the moment that had
an impact on you as a young saxophone player.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Our school had a performance and I had a solo.
I think I was playing can Can in front of
like Stevie Wonder because his daughter goes to my school,
so he was there in the audience. That's cool, and
I feel like I could have done better, but I
(21:05):
did what I could at the moment.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Wow, that's amazing, Elijah. Do you have any questions for
Kumasi about Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
How did you first hear about him?
Speaker 9 (21:15):
You know, I'm fortunate about My father is a music teacher,
my mother is a science teacher. And I grew up
in a community that really held the ideal of kind
of each one teach one like passing on the knowledge
from one generation to the next. That notion is something
that makes our music more than just a profession or
even just an art form. And so Samuel Brown is
(21:38):
a bit of a legend amongst that community.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
How has mister Brown inspired you?
Speaker 9 (21:44):
I would say that he's inspired me to look at
my music not just as something that serves me or
my wants or desires, but it's also a means of me,
you know, being a part of a community that can
help others. Samuel Brown's footprint, his work echoes as echoing
into the centuries after. Anyone who dedicates themselves to education
(22:07):
should look at someone like him and feel proud that
you are walking into his footsteps, because you know, you
just never know who that person is that you're giving
these these gems of wisdom to and what that person.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
May do with them.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
You know, this conversation helps me reflect on everything we've
learned about Samuel Rodney Brown.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Today, and it's making me think about how his legacy
lives on. Thank you both so much for being here.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Thank you, Chaussie.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I really enjoyed this.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Opportunity to meet you.
Speaker 9 (22:33):
I'm on to meet you. I can't wait to hear
you play.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Listeners, we should probably check in on our brand new
bunker school and see how it's going.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Hey, Gabe, let it go.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Not to brag, but the lesson on the history of
garbage was a smash, partially because there is genuinely interesting
stuff to learn about food waste, but mostly because the
kids got to eat a ton of garbage throughout the lesson.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
It was roast to watch.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
Respectfully, Phil, you were not my target audience. Maybe next
lesson we can examine the history of hype.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Now you're speaking my language, Tina.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
It looks like you enjoyed Gabe's lesson. Read good call, Tina,
looks like naptime. Indeed, I see you set up a
big mattress already.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
That means it's time for a family snuggle.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Fire Feel is in for a naptime.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Here we go.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Let everybody jump in joke.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Oh you're laying on my head here nice Lalla Bye Tina.
The kids are asleep. Everyone stay cozy. I'm just gonna
sneak out and chat with our listeners.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Listeners, thanks for joining in today and for going on
a journey with me to learn about Sam You and
Rodney Brown. A huge thanks to today's guests, Camasi Washington
and kid interviewer Elijah. We'll be back next week with
another episode, another song, and another hero. Until then, remember
to make history, you gotta make some noise.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Bye.
Speaker 7 (24:29):
Historical Records is produced in partnership with Story Pirate Studios,
Questlove's two on five Entertainment, John Glickman and iHeart Podcasts
Executive produced by Emir Questlove Thompson, John Glickman, Lee Overtree
and Benjamin Salka. Executive produced for iHeart Podcasts by Noel Brown.
(24:50):
Producers for Story Pirate Studios are Isabella Riccio, Sam Bear,
Eric Gerson, Andrew Miller, Lee Overtree, Peter McNerney and Niminy Ware.
Producers for two one five are Sean G. Britney, Benjamin
and Zarah Zolman, hosted by niminy Ware. Our head writer
is Duke Doyle. Our historians are Gabe Pacheco and Lee Polus.
(25:12):
Music supervision for two one five by Stroe Elliott. Scoring
and music supervision for Story Pirate Studios by Eric Erson.
Sound designed and mixing by Sam Bear at the Relic
Room in New York City. Additional recording by Brett Tuban,
song mastering by Josh Hahn. Theme song by Dan Foster
and Eric Gerson and produced by Eric Erson. Production coordination
(25:33):
by Isabelle Riccio. Production management by Maggie Lee. The line
producer for Story Pirate Studios is Glennis Brault. Pr for
Story Pirate Studios is provided by Naomi Shaw. Episode artwork
by Camilla Franklin. This episode was written by Duke Doyle.
The song Samuel Rodney Brown was written by niminy Ware,
produced by Stroe Elliott and Associate produced and vocal directed
(25:57):
by Eric Gerson. Special guests Kamasi Wa Washington and Kid
interviewer Elijah. This episode features performances by Langston Darby, Peter McNerney,
Lee Overtree, Gabe Pacheco, and Lee Polos.
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