The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr.



Overview of the Item

Repository: The HistoryMakers
1900 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
(312) 674-1900
info@thehistorymakers.com
http://www.thehistorymakers.com
Interviewer: Julieanna Richardson
Videographer: Paul Bieschke
Title:Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr.
Dates:September 19, 2000
Abstract: (ABSTRACT)
Quantity: 6 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials.
Identification: A2000.010
Language: The interviews and records are in English

Biographical Note

Born October 10, 1926, in Chicago, Oscar Brown, Jr. defied narrow definition. Throughout his forty-year career, he was part jazz singer, part poet, part entertainer and part songwriter. As an aspiring young playwright in 1960, Brown made an unprecedented two-hour appearance on NBC soon after writing "Kicks & Company". Though the play never made it to Broadway, Brown had arrived. He began sharing the stage with such greats as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Nancy Wilson and Julius "Cannonball" Adderley. His London-based, two-hour, one-man show, "Oscar Brown, Jr. Entertains," led him to be hailed as a musical genius. He also made headlines with a project that worked effectively with local gang members, done in conjunction with his performance partner and wife, Jean Pace. Among their many discoveries were the Jackson Five. A composer of several hundred songs and more than a dozen full-length feature pieces, Brown lived in Chicago with his family.

He passed away on May 29, 2005.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®

Scope and Contents

This life oral history interview with Oscar Brown Jr. was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2000-09-19 in Chicago, Illinois and is recorded on 6 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Oscar Brown Jr.'s correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Use

All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.

Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms.
Contributors:
Bieschke, Paul
Brown, Oscar Jr.
Richardson, Julieanna
Persons:
(PERSONS)
Corporate Bodies:
(CORPORATE BODIES)
Family Names:
Brown
Places:
(PLACES)
Subjects:
(SUBJECTS)
Document Types:
Video oral history interview
Titles:
The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr.

Related Material

Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.

Administrative Information

Location of Originals

Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr., September 19, 2000. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.

Detailed Description/Tape Listings

Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr., Tape 1, September 19, 2000, TRT: 00:31:14.

Poet, songwriter, and entertainer Oscar Brown Jr. describes his family background and his childhood, sharing early memories of his childhood neighborhoods in Virginia and Chicago, and describing the personalities of his parents.


Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr., Tape 2, September 19, 2000, TRT: 00:31:11.

Poet, songwriter, and entertainer Oscar Brown Jr. provides a vivid description of his childhood neighborhood of Bronzeville in Chicago. Brown discusses his many interests as a young person, including performing on the radio and his involvement with the Communist Party. Brown explains why college was not a good fit for him, and how he jump started his radio career, using the radio to advance his left-wing political messages.


Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr., Tape 3, September 19, 2000, TRT: 00:30:48.

Poet, songwriter and entertainer Oscar Brown Jr. discusses his life and career in the 1950s and 1960s, including his efforts to mobilize labor unions, his involvement with the Communist Party, and his early musical career at Columbia Records. Brown also details the creation and production of his first play, 'Kicks and Company'.


Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr., Tape 4, September 19, 2000, TRT: 00:29:05.

Poet, songwriter, and entertainer Oscar Brown Jr. discusses his career path after the commercial failure of his play 'Kicks and Company'. Brown says he collaborated with many worthy and famous artists, but his own art was perceived as too political and radical, and did not achieve mainstream success. Brown then discusses his show 'Opportunity, Please Knock', which starred members of the Blackstone Rangers gang and helped to ease gang tensions in Chicago. Brown also shares his personal philosophy about African American skill in music, rhythm, and dance.


Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr., Tape 5, September 19, 2000, TRT: 00:30:58.

Poet, songwriter, and entertainer Oscar Brown Jr. shares his personal philosophy on a wide variety of topics and expresses his hopes for the black community, urging continued participation in the arts and advocating for artistic experimentation. Brown talks about how his successful career has affected his personality, and reflects on the different places in the country where he has lived and performed.


Video Oral History Interview with Oscar Brown Jr., Tape 6, September 19, 2000, TRT: 00:29:16.

Poet, songwriter, and entertainer Oscar Brown Jr. tells of how he met his partner and wife, Jean Pace, and details their relationship personally and in performance. Brown also shares his personal philosophy about race and taxation and explains why he has refrained from making income tax payments. Brown then considers his legacy and performs one of his most enduring songs, 'Brown Baby'.