The Vanishing of Harry Pace: Episode 5

2021-07-02

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Roland Hayes and the Lost Generation While reporting the story of Black Swan Records, we spoke with dozens of musicologists, one of whom produced a music compilation called “Black Swans” (plural) about forgotten Black classical singers. Here’s the extraordinary tale of Roland Hayes, another great (and largely forgotten) creator of new cosmologies. The Vanishing of Harry Pace was created by Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee It was Motown before Motown, FUBU before FUBU: Blac...

Roland Hayes and the Lost Generation

While reporting the story of Black Swan Records, we spoke with dozens of musicologists, one of whom produced a music compilation called “Black Swans” (plural) about forgotten Black classical singers. Here’s the extraordinary tale of Roland Hayes, another great (and largely forgotten) creator of new cosmologies.

The Vanishing of Harry Pace was created by Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee

It was Motown before Motown, FUBU before FUBU: Black Swan Records. The label founded exactly 100 years ago by Harry Pace. Pace launched the career of Ethel Waters, inadvertently invented the term rock n roll, played an important role in W.C. Handy becoming "Father of the Blues," inspired Ebony and Jet magazines, and helped desegregate the South Side of Chicago in an epic Supreme Court battle. Then, he disappeared. The Vanishing of Harry Pace is a series about the phenomenal but forgotten man who changed the American music scene. It's a story about betrayal, family, hidden identities, and a time like no other.

This series was produced in collaboration with author Kiese Laymon, scholar Imani Perry, screenwriter Cord Jefferson, and WQXR’s Terrance McKnight. Jami Floyd is our consulting producer; our fact checker is Natalie Meade. The series features interviews with Pace's descendants and over forty musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy.

This episode featured scenes from Christopher Brooks' and Robert Sims' biography, Roland Hayes: The Legacy of an American Tenor. Thank you to actor William Jackson Harper for helping us bring Berlin to life. Also Lillian Xu, Eli Cohen, Theodora Kuslan, Sarah Sandbach, Andrew Golis, and MaryAnne Nesdill.

This episode featured the following music:

Robert Sims Sings the Spirituals of Roland Hayes

Bill Doggett's collection of Black Swan records

Black Swans: The First Recordings of Black Classical Music Performers

Du Bist Die Ruh by Roland Hayes

Were You There by Roland Hayes

Vesti La Giubba by Roland Hayes

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