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>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED BY
IU SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
BLOOMINGTON.
ADDRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS
BY PREVENTING DISEASE, PROMOTING
HEALTH, AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF
LIFE ACROSS THE STATE AND AROUND
THE WORLD THROUGH RESEARCH,
TEACHING, AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
THE ALCO RECOGNITION ENDOWMENT
FUND, ESTABLISHED BY FRIENDS AND
FAMILY TO SUPPORT JAZZ
INITIATIVES ON WTIU.
AND WTIU MEMBERS, THANK YOU.
>> INDIANA IS CELEBRATING ITS
BICENTENNIAL.
>> A REMARKABLE INDIANA FIRST
THAT PUT OUR STATE ON THE MAP.
TRAVEL TO 1880 WHEN WABASH
INDIANA WAS THE FIRST ELECTRIC
LIGHTED CITY IN THE WORLD.
AND THE STATE'S FIRST CAPITAL,
AND THE GATEWAY TO THE WEST.
EXPLORE THE SOUNDS OF STAR
GENNETTE RECORDING STUDIO.
AND TODAY'S CURRENT JAZZ
MASTERS, ROBBIE STEP, AND THE
STEPPING OUT BANDS OF THE
STUDIO.
AS INDIANA HONORS ITS
BICENTENNIAL, WHAT MAKES THE
STATE GREAT.
>> IT'S ALL COMING UP RIGHT NOW
ON THE WEEKLY SPECIAL.
♪♪
>> WELCOME TO WEEKLY SPECIAL.
>> I'M ERICA S DON.
OVER THE LAST 200 YEARS, THE
STATE HAS SEEN MANY NATIONAL
FIRSTS.
ONE MONUMENTAL MOMENT LIT UP THE
NATION WITH EXCITEMENT AND
MARKED WABASH, INDIANA'S PLACE
IN WORLD HISTORY.
>> MARCH 31ST, 1880.
THE FAME OF WABASH, INDIANA, HAS
BEEN WAFTED UPON EVERY BREEZE
AND HURLED FROM ONE POINT OF THE
COMPASS TO ANOTHER UNTIL EVERY
NOOK AND CORNER IN AMERICA HAS
BEEN REACHED.
THIS IS BECAUSE SHE IS THE FIRST
CITY IN THE WORLD TO BE LIGHTED
BY ELECTRICITY.
IT WAS THE STRANGEST LIGHT EVER
EXHIBITED IN THESE UNITED STATES
FORT WAYNE GAZETTE.
>> RARELY DOES THE GEOGRAPHIC
LAYOUT OF A CITY GUARANTEE ITS
PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL FAME.
BUT SUCH WAS THE CASE IN 1880 AS
A TOWN OF WABASH, INDIANA, WHICH
ENJOYS THE CLAIM OF BEING THE
FIRST ELECTICALLY-LIGHTED CITY
IN THE WORLD.
>> THEY HAVE THIS COURTHOUSE
HIGH ON A HILL THAT WOULD ALLOW
THE LIGHT TO SPREAD OVER THE
WHOLE TOWN.
AND SERVICE THE WHOLE TOWN.
LIGHT THE WHOLE CITY.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING.
>> IN 1879 DR. CHARLES RUSH OF
CLEVELAND, OHIO, WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST ENTREPRENEURS TO SHED NEW
LIGHT ON THE FUNCTIONAL USES OF
ELECTRICITY.
RUSH WAS WORKING WITH THE NEW
ARC LAMP WHICH GENERATED POWER
FROM A SMALL DIE DYNAMO, SENDING
SPARKS THROUGH CARBON RODS
CREATING A BRIGHT, WHITE LIGHT.
AT THE SAME TIME INMEN LOW PARK,
NEW JERSEY, THOMAS EDISON WAS
PERFECTING HIS NEW INCANDESCENT
LIGHT.
IN A HEATED PUBLICITY RACE, BOTH
WERE EAGER TO SHOW HOW THEY
WOULD LIGHT AN ENTIRE CITY WITH
ELECTRICITY.
MEANWHILE IN WABASH, INDIANA,
THE EDITOR OF THE WABASH PLAIN
DEALER AND HIS PARTNER THOUGHT
THEY COULD HELP RUSH SUCCEED IN
BEATING EDISON.
>> THE TWO MEN WERE WALKING ONE
NIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THE BIG
COURTHOUSE, AND SAW IT, MAYBE
THE TOP OF THAT COURTHOUSE WOULD
BE A GOOD PLACE TO TRY LIGHTING
THE TOWN WITH THE NEW LIGHTS
THEY HAD RED ABOUT.
CUTLER WENT TO CLEVELAND, TALKED
TO CHARLES RUSH, PRESENTED HIM
WITH THE IDEA.
HE LIKED THE IDEA.
SO THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE
CITY COUNCIL.
>> NOTES FROM A CITY COUNCIL
MEETING IN FEBRUARY 1880 STATED
THAT WABASH WOULD AGREE TO PAY
$100 TO THE BRUSH COMPANY TO SET
UP A DEMONSTRATION IN MARCH.
IF THE EVENT PROVED SUCCESSFUL
WABASH WOULD PAY THE COMPANY
$1800 TO SET UP A PERMANENT
LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THE TOWN.
THE TWO EDITORS FROM THE PLAIN
DEALER WERE THRILLED.
AND HYPED THE COMING ATTRACTION
WITH GREAT FLARE.
BUT AS SOON AS THE DEAL WAS
SIGNED, WABASH CITIZENS
QUESTIONED THE MOVE.
THE RIVAL NEWSPAPER CALLED THE
LIGHTING EVENT A STUNT.
AND MANY WORRIED ABOUT THE
MOTIVES OF FOLKS FROM OUT OF
TOWN WHO MIGHT ABSCOND WITH THE
TAX MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE OF
WABASH, NONE OF WHOM HAD SEEN
ELECTRIC LIGHTS BEFORE.
>> PEOPLE HAD READ ABOUT
ELECTRICITY.
PEOPLE IN WABASH HAD READ ABOUT
IT, BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED IT.
>> THEY WERE DOUBTING.
BOTH NEWSPAPERS HAD ALL THESE
THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
LIKE THE COWS BEING SO STRESSED
OUT FROM LIGHT ALL THE TIME AND
SO TIRED THEY WOULDN'T GIVE
MILK.
THE CHICKENS, THE SAME THING.
THEY WOULD PROBABLY CROAK THEY
WOULD BE SO TIRED.
>> AT THE TIME DREW CLOSER TO
THE MARCH 31ST LIGHTING EVENT,
TENSIONS SOARED IN WABASH.
PLAIN DEALER EDITOR BUTLER
REPORTED THAT ONE DAY THE
ARGUMENTS GREW SO HEATED BETWEEN
THE TWO WABASH NEWSPAPERS THE
EDITOR OF THE RIVAL PAPER
ACCOSTED A PLAIN DEALER EDITOR
BY HOLDING A PISTOL TO HIS
THROAT AND THREATENING HIM.
BUTLER AND MANY MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL BEGAN TO DOUBT
THEIR DECISION.
>> THEY HAVE A MOMENT WHEN THEY
ARE WONDERING, WHAT HAVE WE
DONE?
WHY -- WHY DID WE DECIDE TO TAKE
THIS ON?
YOU KNOW?
WILL IT WORK?
>> ON MARCH 31ST, 1880, SPECIAL
TRAINS FROM ALL OVER THE MIDWEST
POURED INTO WABASH, CRAMMED WITH
PEOPLE HOPING TO SEE THE
SPECTACLE.
THE TINY TOWN OF 2500 CITIZENS
WAS FLOODED WITH MORE THAN
10,000 SPECTATORS FROM ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY.
>> MARCH THE 31ST AT 8:00 LOCAL
TIME IT WAS PITCH DARK.
AND THE ARRANGEMENT WAS THAT THE
LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AT 8:00.
AT THE STROKE OF 8:00.
IT WAS TREMENDOUS TENSION IN
THAT CROWD.
THEY WERE STANDING THERE WAITING
FOR THE CLOCK -- ***, ***,
***.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHTS
CAME ON.
AND IT WAS SUCH AN AWESOME
THING.
THEY WERE SO BRIGHT.
THAT PEOPLE WERE ABSOLUTELY
QUIET FOR A MINUTE.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING.
IT WAS LIKE --
>> THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE.
YOU COULD HAVE HEARD THE PIN
DROP.
>> AND THEN THE CHEERS, OF
COURSE, AND THE CELEBRATION.
AND SUPPOSEDLY A FARMER OUT IN
THE COUNTRY, IT WAS SO BRIGHT
OUT THERE AND HE SAW THE LIGHTS,
AND HE RAN IN AND SAID GET ON
YOUR KNEES, MOTHER.
THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END.
>> THE CROWD SPREAD OVER THE
SUBURBS MAKING TESTS BY READING
NEWSPAPERS IN AREAS THAT A
MOMENT BEFORE WAS PITCH BLACK.
IN SHORT, WABASH NOW ENJOYS THE
DISTINCTION OF BEING IN THE
FIRST CITY IN THE WHOLE WORLD TO
BE LIGHTED BY ELECTRICITY.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
>> THIS BECAME A GREAT PART OF
CITY PRIDE.
AND SOME OF THAT STILL EXISTS
TODAY.
♪♪
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
FIRST ELECTRICALLY LIGHTED CITY
IN THE WORLD, VISIT WABASH
MUSEUM.ORG.
>>> AND ALONG THE WABASH RIVER,
THE HOME OF THE STATE'S FIRST
CAPITAL AND ONCE THE GATEWAY TO
THE WILD WEST.
>> THOUSANDS OF YEARS ON THE
BANKS OF THE WABASH, PIONEERS.
IT WAS KNOWN TO THE EARLIEST
KNOWN TRIBES OF THE OHIO VALLEY.
THEIR BURIAL MOUNDS STILL
EVIDENT TODAY, REMAINED
UNDISTURBED FOR NEARLY 1,000
YEARS UNTIL THE EUROPEANS
ARRIVED.
IN THE 1700s FRENCH FUR
TRADERS WERE DRAWN BY GAME AND
THE RIVER.
CLAIMING THE LAND FOR THE FRENCH
COLONY OF KENYA.
>> THE FRENCH HAD BEEN
DEVELOPING THE WABASH RIVER AT A
NEW ROUTE THAT CONNECTED THE
NORTHERN AREA OF CANADA TO THE
SOUTHERN AREA OF LOUISIANA.
AND THEY ESTABLISHED IT TO
DETROIT.
AND THE LOGICAL THING WAS TO
BUILD A PORT ON THE LOWER WABASH
RIVER.
THEY CHOSE FOR THIS, THE
FRENCH-CANADIAN MARINE OFFICERS,
IN 1730 HE CAME DOWN AND BROUGHT
THIS TO THE TRIBE OF THE INDIANS
DOWN INTO LOUISIANA.
AND ESTABLISHED HIS FORT THERE.
>> KNOWN AS THE POST BEFORE
BEING RENAMED IN 1735, IT WAS
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT IN INDIANA.
HOME TO A NUMBER OF
FRENCH-CANADIAN FAMILIES WHO
LIVED IN PEACE ALONG SIDE THE
NEIGHBORING VILLAGE.
AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1776, ANOTHER
TOOK OVER COMMAND.
>> HE DECIDED TO PUT THE TOWN IN
A MORE PERMANENT BASIS BY
ENCOURAGING AGRICULTURE.
THEY GRANTED LAND, LAID OUT
STREETS IN THE TOWN.
HE ALSO DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A
CHURCH.
THE CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS HERE
ON THE WABASH.
AND SO HE HAD EDUCATION.
AND IT BECAME ONE OF THE MORE
PERMANENT BASES.
>> IN 1754 THE FRENCH-INDIAN WAR
ERUPTED ACROSS THE TERRITORIES.
WITH THE FRENCH TO SEE ALL LANDS
REPLACED UNDER BRITISH RULE.
BUT AS THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTIONARY WAR BEGAN, A YOUNG
MAN BY THE NAME OF GEORGE ROGERS
CLARK FORMED A BOLD PLAN TO
CAPTURE THE FORMER FRENCH
SETTLEMENT.
OPENING THE STATE'S PASSAGE AND
ENSURING THE PATRIOTS CONTINUED
TRAVEL FROM NEW ORLEANS.
ON JULY 4th, 1772, CLARK AND
150 MEN BEGAN THEIR ATTACK.
THEY WERE GREATLY OUTNUMBERED
BUT SUCCESSFULLY CAPTURED THE
FORT.
>> HENRY HAMILTON, THE BRITISH
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF DETROIT
RECEIVED WORD AND DECIDED THIS
WAS NOT GOING TO STAND.
FORMED AN ARMY OF HIS OWN AND
HEADED DOWN THE WABASH RIVER,
ARRIVING IN THE VICINITY IN
DECEMBER OF 1778.
>> THE HANDFUL OF MEN WERE NO
MATCH FOR HAMILTON'S ARMY.
HE RECAPTURED THE FORT WITHOUT
FIRING A SINGLE SHOT.
BUT THEY WOULD NOT ATTACK IN THE
WINTER.
HAMILTON RELEASED HIS ARMY TO
HOME.
CLARK POUNCED.
IN FEBRUARY OF 1779 HE LAUNCHED
A BRAZEN WINTER EXPEDITION.
FALSELY CONVINCED THAT CLARK HAD
A LARGE ARMY JUST BEHIND HIM,
HAMILTON SURRENDERED.
IT WAS THE LARGEST LAND CONQUEST
OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
IT BECAME KNOWN AS THE NORTHWEST
TERRITORY.
>> ALL THE WESTERN PART OF THE
LAND IN 1800 BECAME THE INDIANA
TERRITORY.
AND VINCENNE SE WAS ELECTED THE
CAPITAL CITY OF THE INDIANA
TERRITORY.
THE OLDEST TOWN IN THE
TERRITORY.
70 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.
WAY OLDER THAN THE OTHERS.
IT WAS CENTRALLY LOCATED.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON WHO HAD
BEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS
APPOINTED AS THE GOVERNOR OF THE
NEW INDIANA TERRITORY.
ARRIVED OUT HERE IN JANUARY OF
1801 TO SET UP THE GOVERNOR.
>> HARRISON'S ARRIVAL USHERED IN
A NEW INTELLECTUAL ERA.
IN 1801 HE ESTABLISHED THE
JEFFERSON ACADEMY, TODAY IT'S
THE UNIVERSITY.
HE ALSO CREATED THE TERRITORY'S
FIRST NEWSPAPER, THE INDIANA
GAZETTE.
BUT IT WAS HARRISON'S EFFORTS
OUTSIDE OF TOWN THAT BEGAN TO
RAISE TENSIONS.
GOVERNOR HARRISON MADE TREATY
AFTER TREATY WITH THE TRIBES.
BY THE END OF THE DECADE HE HAD
CREEDED NEARLY 75% OF THE
TERRITORY FROM THE NATIVE
AMERICANS.
IN 1810 THEY MET WITH GOVERNOR
HARRISON TO NEGOTIATE A LAND
COMPROMISE.
HARRISON REFUSED AND THE
RESULTING BATTLE LED TO THE WAR
OF 1812.
HARRISON'S VICTORIES AS
COMMANDER OF THE NORTHWEST ARMY
WOULD EARN HIM A GOLD MEDAL FOR
SERVICE AND PAVE THE WAY FOR AN
EVENTUAL PRESIDENCY.
IN HIS ABSENCE POLITICIANS MOVED
THE TERRITORIAL CAPITAL TO CORY
DON.
AND THERE THEY DRAFTED THE FIRST
INDIANA CONSTITUTION IN 1816.
TODAY 100 MILES AWAY, VINCENNES
IS NOT JUST A TESTIMONY TO THE
FOUNDING OF THE STATE, BUT THE
FOUNDING OF AMERICAN LIFE.
>> WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR
HISTORY.
WE CONSIDER OURSELVES TO BE THE
MOST HISTORICAL COMMUNITY IN
INDIANA.
THE BEGINNING OF RELIGION,
REPRESENTED BY THE OLD CATHEDRAL
AND THE OLD CATHEDRAL LIBRARY.
WE HAVE OUR TERRITORIAL CENTER
HERE, THE TERRITORIAL CAPITAL.
THE JEFFERSON ACADEMY, THE
BEGINNING OF EDUCATION.
SO YOU GET A LOT OF
INTERPRETATION.
AND THE BEGINNINGS OF INDIANA.
AND JUST FROM THE STUDY OF THESE
BEGINNINGS THAT WE GET SOME
INKLING OF WHY INDIANA IS THE
WAY IT IS.
>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU
CAN VISIT THE HISTORICAL SITES,
GO TO INDIANA MUSEUMS.ORG.
>> THE PIONEERING ATTITUDE OF
INDIANA'S EARLIEST CONTINUED IN
THE HEARTLAND AS DID THE FAMOUS
FIRST PUBLICATION.
>> THE PIANO COMPANY WAS REALLY
ONE OF THE LARGER INDUSTRIAL
CONCERNS HERE IN RICHMOND.
RICHMOND WAS QUITE AN INDUSTRIAL
AREA IN THE 1800s.
EVERY FAMILY HAD A PIANO IN
THEIR PARLOR.
IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE MASS
ENTERTAINMENT WE THINK OF TODAY
ALL OF THE DAUGHTERS WERE TAUGHT
TO PLAY PIANO SO IN THE EVENING
THE FAMILY COULD SIT AROUND THE
PIANO AND SING SONGS.
THAT WAS COMMON.
BUT TECHNOLOGY CHANGED.
SO THE STAR PIANO COMPANY DID
START PRODUCING PHONOGRAPHS.
THAT WAS RIGHT ALONG THE LINES
WITH THE PIANOS.
WELL THEY DECIDED, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE PUTTING OUT THESE
BEAUTIFUL PIECES OF FURNITURE.
LET'S MAKE THE DISKS THAT PEOPLE
CAN PLAY ON THEM AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHEN THEY STARTED
THINKING ABOUT RECORDING.
>> THEY OPENED UP A RECORDING
STUDIO IN RICHMOND HERE.
AND INSTEAD OF LOOKING AROUND
FOR TALENT TO RECORD, AMERICA
WAS VERY SESSION GROW GATED, YOU
KNOW, IN THE '20s.
THERE WAS CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW,
GOOD OPERA, CLASSICAL MUSIC.
AND THEN THERE WAS CONSIDERED
COMMON MUSIC.
BLUES, JAZZ, ASSOCIATED WITH
ALCOHOL.
ASSOCIATED WITH SPEAKEASIES.
IT'S NOT SOMEPLACE WHERE PARENTS
WANTED THEIR KIDS TO GO.
BUT TEENAGERS AT THE TIME IN
CHICAGO AND ELSEWHERE JUST
FLIPPED OUT.
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE NEW MUSIC.
IT'S THE NEW JAZZ.
FROM NEW ORLEANS IN YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS DANCEABLE MUSIC.
THIS WAS JAZZ WITH KIND OF AN
UPBEAT, KIND OF A HOT KIND OF
MUSIC.
THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE
NICHES IN MARKET.
THEY DIDN'T SEE RACE AS A
BARRIER.
PEOPLE OF ALL RACES RACES AND
BACKGROUNDS CAME HERE TO
RICHMOND TO RECORD.
>> THE REASON THESE BANDS CAME
TO LITTLE OLD RICHMOND, INDIANA,
WAS BECAUSE THE BIG COMPANIES,
YOU KNOW, VICTOR AND COLUMBIA IN
NEW YORK, THEY WERE DOING
CLASSICAL MUSIC.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANTED TO
HEAR.
AND THAT WAS THE ACCEPTED, YOU
KNOW -- NOBODY LISTENS TO JAZZ.
THAT WAS LIKE ROCK AND ROLL IN
THE '50s.
AND SO IN RETROSPECT WITH THESE
RECORDINGS, THEY ARE REALLY
GOOD.
BUT AT THE TIME IT WAS JUST A
WAY TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.
>> THERE WAS A FEW BANDS IN
CHICAGO THAT WAS CREATING A BIG
EXCITEMENT.
AND THEY WERE THE NEW ORLEANS
RIBBON BAND.
AND THIS IS THE GROUP THAT
CARMICHAEL WAS ON, SO IN 1922
THEY CAME DOWN HERE IN AN
AUTOMOBILE AND CUT THEIR FIRST
SONG.
THE BLUES.
WITHIN SIX MONTHS KING OLIVER'S
CREOLE JAZZ BAND WAS HERE.
A YOUNG CORNETIST WAS PLAYING.
AND HIS NAME WAS LOUIS
ARMSTRONG.
SO WE HAVE THE JAZZ MASTERS HERE
IN MICHIGAN.
AND THE CREOLE JAZZ BAND OUT OF
CHICAGO.
AND THEN AFTER THAT IT WAS JUST
KIND OF AN AVALANCHE OF
RECORDING ARTISTS THAT CAME.
WHAT WAS SORT OF UNIQUE ABOUT
GANNETT IS THEY DIDN'T PUT A LOT
OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE
MUSICIANS.
IN NEW YORK AND COLUMBIA RECORDS
THEY WOULD BRING IN MUSICIANS
AND THEY WOULD DEMAND THEY PLAY
A CERTAIN WAY AND PLAY CERTAIN
SONGS.
GENNETT WANTED THE MUSICIANS TO
PLAY THEIR BEST STUFF.
THE STUFF THAT THEY PLAYED ON
THE STAGE.
THEY PLAYED, YOU KNOW, BEFORE IN
CHICAGO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS
IMPORTANT HERE AT GENNETT IS
THAT JELLY ROLL MORTON, A
MARVELOUS PIANO PLAYER PLAYED
WITH, RECORDED WITH THE NEW
ORLEANS RHYTHM RIGHT HERE IN
INDIANA.
AND IT'S THE FIRST DOCUMENTED
INSTANCE OF BLACK AND WHITE
MUSICIANS.
AND THAT HAPPENED AT GENNETT
STUDIO.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAME
THROUGH HERE WAS INCREDIBLE.
THERE'S ABOUT 10,000 MASTERS
THAT WERE MADE AND THEN FROM
THERE THEY WOULD PRINT MANY,
MANY RECORDS, OF COURSE.
DEPENDING ON HOW THE SALES WERE
GOING.
JAZZ WAS POPULAR MUSIC.
IT MOVES FROM A REGIONAL THING,
NEW ORLEANS THING, TO A NATIONAL
THING.
GENNETT RECORDS WAS DOCUMENTING
THE RECORDINGS OF THESE
MARVELOUS MUSICIANS.
GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO
RECORD AT YOUNG AGES.
NOT RESTRICTING WHAT THEY'RE
RECORDING.
YOU KNOW, A RECORD YOU CAN
ACTUALLY HEAR WHAT THEY SOUNDED
LIKE.
YOU CAN HEAR FROM THE CORNET OR
TRUMPET SOUNDED LIKE.
AND YOU CAN SAY THAT'S JELLY
ROLL.
AND THAT'S THE PIANO.
OR THAT'S STAR DUST.
AND YOU CAN GO BAA IN TIME AND
HEAR THAT.
♪♪
♪♪
>> THIS IS A WONDERFUL HISTORY.
AND THE GENNETT AND THE STARS
BEFORE THAT HELPED IT GROW.
WONDERFUL THING WE HAVE HERE.
AND IT'S GREAT.
>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HEART
OF JAZZ HISTORY VISIT STAR
GENNETT.ORG.
FROM JAZZ GREATS OF THE PAST TO
JAZZ MASTERS OF TODAY WE HAVE
THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED GROUP
RODNEY AND THE SEVEN OUT BAND.
♪♪
♪♪
>> ABOUT TWO YEARS OUT AND ONE
OF MY AUNTS HAD A GRAND PIANO.
EVERY TIME I WENT TO THE HOUSE
THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE I RAN TO.
BY THE TIME I WAS FOUR AND A
HALF, THEY DECIDED TO TEACH ME,
AND I WENT TO THE COLLEGE OF
MUSIC ON BUTLER'S CAMPUS.
HAD ME TESTED AND I GOT ACCEPTED
AT FOUR AND A HALF AND I HAVE
BEEN DOING MUSIC EVER SINCE.
>> I REMEMBER BEING ABOUT 4.
HEARING THE TRUMPET ON TV.
THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.
I WANTED TO PLAY THE TRUMPET.
AT 7, GOT THE TRUMPET, STARTS
LESSONS.
BEEN IN MUSIC EVER SINCE.
>> I RECEIVED MY ON THE JOB
TRAINING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
BAND AND THROUGH THE FIRST PART
OF MY YOUNG ADULT LIFE.
JOINING THE SPINNERS I NEVER
WOULD HAVE TRAVELED AND SEEN AS
MUCH OF THE WORLD AS I DID.
TRAVELED WITH SOME OF THE
BIGGEST STARS YOU CAN NAME.
STEVIE WONDER WHOEVER, YOU KNOW,
WHOEVER IT WAS.
WE GOT A CHANCE TO DO A LOT OF
MUSIC.
THE SPINNERS HAD A LOT OF HITS.
SO THE LATEST HISTORY OF THAT,
IT'S IRREPLACEABLE.
BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.
LEARNED A LOT.
GOT MY DOCTORATE.
WELL, ACTUALLY MET STEVE, STEVE
WAS WORKING AT A MUSIC STORE AND
OUR FRIENDSHIP DEVELOPED INTO
MORE THAN JUST A SALESMAN/BUYER
RELATIONSHIP.
AND WE REALLY BECAME FRIENDS.
>> OUR CURRENT CD IS CALLED
SECOND CHANCE.
BECAUSE RODNEY AND I FELT WE
WERE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE TO
WORK TOGETHER.
AND SECOND CHANCE AT PUTTING
ORIGINAL MUSIC OUT THERE.
>> I WAS REALLY INSPIRED AND
MOTIVATED BY MY FATHER.
AND THIS WAS ONE OF HIS DYING
WISHES.
ON HIS DEATH BED.
HE SAID I WANT YOU TO DO YOUR
MUSIC.
I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN WRITING
VOCALS.
I JUST ALWAYS WRITTEN THEM FOR
OTHER PEOPLE.
I NEVER WROTE THEM FOR MYSELF.
NOW IT'S KIND OF WRITING THEM
FOR MYSELF.
>> SO I DECIDED I'M GOING TO DO
MY FIRST SOLO ALBUM.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO
ON THAT ALBUM WAS DEDICATE AND
WRITE A SONG IN MEMORY OF MY
MOTHER AND FATHER.
AND I WROTE COME HOME, OLD
FAITHFUL.
IN 1998 THE SONG WENT TO NUMBER
TWO ON THE CHARTS.
>> RODNEY AND I BOTH WANT TO
MAKE MUSIC THAT SPEAKS TO
PEOPLE.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET
PEOPLE FEEL BETTER ABOUT
THEMSELVES AND ABOUT THE WORLD.
WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE.
AND ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE.
RODNEY IS A FABULOUS
ENTERTAINER.
I HAVE NEVER MET A BETTER
PERFORMER AND ENTERTAINER THAN
RODNEY.
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
IT'S ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE.
GET THEM ENGAGED, GET THEM
INVOLVED.
LET THEM BE A PART OF YOUR
PROCESS.
>> WE'RE HAVING FUN.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> WE HAVE FUN ON STAGE.
AND WE WANT THE AUDIENCE TO HAVE
FUN.
AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF
IT.
>> I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MY
MUSIC.
AND EVERY PART OF MY LIFE MUSIC
HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
>> WE DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE IT.
>> I'LL NEVER RETIRE FROM MUSIC.
IT'S PART OF ME, IT'S WHAT MAKES
ME HAPPY.
MY PASSION.
GOD'S NOT DONE WITH ME YET.
>> FOR THE LATEST LISTING OF
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES VISIT
THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
NOW SIT BACK AND LISTEN TO
RODNEY AND THE STEPPING OUT
BAND.
>> AND SEE THE BANDS FULL
PERFORMANCES IN OUR STUDIO.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.
GOOD BYE!
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL IS PROVIDED BY --
IU SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
BLOOMINGTON.
ADDRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS
BY PREVENTING DISEASE, PROMOTING
HEALTH AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF
LIFE AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH
RESEARCH, TEACHING, AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THROUGH ALCO RECOGNITION
ENDOWMENT FUND.
TO SUPPORT JAZZ INITIATIVES ON
WTIU AND WFIU.
AND WTIU MEMBERS, THANK YOU.