Paul Robeson (singer, bass, album, American, Russian)

Molecules · 03-17-2009, 07:46 AM

Paul Robeson

This man was a truly remarkable human being. I'm just gonna paste his biog here rather than try to re-word it. I felt it appropriate to post this in the folk forum because of his repertoire of traditional songs, although I guess you could put it in soul. His voice MELTS ME.

Paul Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American actor, athlete, bass-baritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, Spingarn Medal winner, and Lenin Peace Prize laureate.

Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bass-baritone voice. He is one of the few true basses in American music, his beautiful and powerful voice descending as low as a C below the bass clef. In addition to his stage performances, his renditions of old Negro spirituals were acclaimed; Robeson was the first to bring them to the concert stage.
Robeson’s repertoire of African-American folk songs helped bring these to much wider attention both inside the US and abroad. Robeson also became interested in the folk music of the world; he came to be conversant with 20 languages, fluent or near fluent in 12. His standard repertoire after the 1920’s included songs in many languages (e.g., Chinese, Russian, Yiddish, German, etc.).

Robeson was among the first performers to sing in concert on behalf of the U.S. World War II war effort. He sang and spoke out against racist conditions experienced by Asian and Black Americans; he condemned segregation in both the North and the South.
Like many intellectuals and artists of the time, Robeson supported the Soviet Union. After living as a second-class citizen under Jim Crow laws in the United States, what Robeson saw in the Soviet Union led him to believe that it was free of racial prejudice. In June 1949, Robeson visited the Soviet Union to sing in concert and was given a warm public welcome.

In 1950, after he refused to sign an affidavit that he was not a Communist, the U.S. government took away Robeson’s passport and, with it, his freedom to travel outside the United States. The travel ban ended in 1958 when Robeson’s passport was returned to him after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Kent vs. Dulles, that the Secretary of State had no right to deny a passport or require any citizen to sign an affidavit because of his political beliefs. However, because of the controversy surrounding him, all of Paul Robeson’s recordings and films were withdrawn from circulation. From then until the late 1970s, it became increasingly difficult in the United States to hear Robeson sing on records or on the radio, or to see any of his films, including the highly acclaimed and successful 1936 film version of Show Boat.

Welsh miners’ organisations were among the most prominent international supporters of the campaign calling for the restoration of his passport and to Let Paul Robeson Sing!. When his passport was returned, Robeson traveled to Wales to appear at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale. He then performed at the Miners’ Eisteddfod, fulfilling a promise he had made while prevented from traveling. In 1960, Robeson’s final performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London included choral accompaniment from the Cwmbach Welsh male voice choir.
Robeson’s association with Wales began in 1928 while he was performing in London in the musical Show Boat. There, he met a group of unemployed miners who had taken part in a “hunger march” from South Wales to protest their situation. During the 1930s, Robeson made several visits to Welsh mining areas, including performances in Cardiff, Neath and Aberdare. A number of Welsh artists have celebrated Robeson’s life: The Manic Street Preachers’ song “Let Robeson Sing” appears on the album Know Your Enemy.

His version of Ol' Man River is also definitive

NSW · 03-17-2009, 08:25 AM

Spectacular voice (and life from the looks of it). I'd be interested in reading a more in depth biography on him.

I could just hear him singing "Summertime", so I looked for it out of curiosity and found this gem...just wonderful

4ZZZ · 03-17-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molecules

His version of Ol' Man River is also definitive

It is a wonderful version indeed.

My folks played him when I was young but I only rediscovered him a few years back. His voice! And what a life.

Great thread Molecules. Deserves a fair audience and for those that do not know of this wonderful singer I suggest have a listen.

Molecules · 03-17-2009, 01:01 PM

Indeed, good call on 'summertime' NSW, I used to only really only like the songs where he was accompanied by just a piano but I love the orchestral stuff now.
This is one of my favourites, it's in a lower key to the one I have so it sounds wrong to me but I'll post it anywayz. The spirituals really are the most potent songs he got his hands on I think. This and that video of the Chinese national anthem I am literally obsessed with

Robeson recorded alot of stuff which isn't surprising considering he's a bit of a one-off and must have had huge demand..
Only problem I've had is his discography which is large and quite a mess, and this is the only collection I have, it's apparently one of the best and the artwork is apt too

It's half piano/half orchestra accompaniment

03-17-2009, 07:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	Paul Robeson Paul Robeson This man was a truly remarkable human being. I'm just gonna paste his biog here rather than try to re-word it. I felt it appropriate to post this in the folk forum because of his repertoire of traditional songs, although I guess you could put it in soul. His voice MELTS ME. Paul Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American actor, athlete, bass-baritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, Spingarn Medal winner, and Lenin Peace Prize laureate. Robeson found fame as an actor and singer with his fine bass-baritone voice. He is one of the few true basses in American music, his beautiful and powerful voice descending as low as a C below the bass clef. In addition to his stage performances, his renditions of old Negro spirituals were acclaimed; Robeson was the first to bring them to the concert stage. Robeson’s repertoire of African-American folk songs helped bring these to much wider attention both inside the US and abroad. Robeson also became interested in the folk music of the world; he came to be conversant with 20 languages, fluent or near fluent in 12. His standard repertoire after the 1920’s included songs in many languages (e.g., Chinese, Russian, Yiddish, German, etc.). Robeson was among the first performers to sing in concert on behalf of the U.S. World War II war effort. He sang and spoke out against racist conditions experienced by Asian and Black Americans; he condemned segregation in both the North and the South. Like many intellectuals and artists of the time, Robeson supported the Soviet Union. After living as a second-class citizen under Jim Crow laws in the United States, what Robeson saw in the Soviet Union led him to believe that it was free of racial prejudice. In June 1949, Robeson visited the Soviet Union to sing in concert and was given a warm public welcome. In 1950, after he refused to sign an affidavit that he was not a Communist, the U.S. government took away Robeson’s passport and, with it, his freedom to travel outside the United States. The travel ban ended in 1958 when Robeson’s passport was returned to him after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Kent vs. Dulles, that the Secretary of State had no right to deny a passport or require any citizen to sign an affidavit because of his political beliefs. However, because of the controversy surrounding him, all of Paul Robeson’s recordings and films were withdrawn from circulation. From then until the late 1970s, it became increasingly difficult in the United States to hear Robeson sing on records or on the radio, or to see any of his films, including the highly acclaimed and successful 1936 film version of Show Boat. Welsh miners’ organisations were among the most prominent international supporters of the campaign calling for the restoration of his passport and to Let Paul Robeson Sing!. When his passport was returned, Robeson traveled to Wales to appear at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale. He then performed at the Miners’ Eisteddfod, fulfilling a promise he had made while prevented from traveling. In 1960, Robeson’s final performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London included choral accompaniment from the Cwmbach Welsh male voice choir. Robeson’s association with Wales began in 1928 while he was performing in London in the musical Show Boat. There, he met a group of unemployed miners who had taken part in a “hunger march” from South Wales to protest their situation. During the 1930s, Robeson made several visits to Welsh mining areas, including performances in Cardiff, Neath and Aberdare. A number of Welsh artists have celebrated Robeson’s life: The Manic Street Preachers’ song “Let Robeson Sing” appears on the album Know Your Enemy. His version of Ol' Man River is also definitive __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

03-17-2009, 08:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	Spectacular voice (and life from the looks of it). I'd be interested in reading a more in depth biography on him. I could just hear him singing "Summertime", so I looked for it out of curiosity and found this gem...just wonderful __________________ Hi. Last edited by NSW; 03-17-2009 at 01:14 PM.

03-17-2009, 01:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	Indeed, good call on 'summertime' NSW, I used to only really only like the songs where he was accompanied by just a piano but I love the orchestral stuff now. This is one of my favourites, it's in a lower key to the one I have so it sounds wrong to me but I'll post it anywayz. The spirituals really are the most potent songs he got his hands on I think. This and that video of the Chinese national anthem I am literally obsessed with Robeson recorded alot of stuff which isn't surprising considering he's a bit of a one-off and must have had huge demand.. Only problem I've had is his discography which is large and quite a mess, and this is the only collection I have, it's apparently one of the best and the artwork is apt too It's half piano/half orchestra accompaniment __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her