Monday, January 15, 2007

Don't Let the Dream Die

On April 4th, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, TN.

Several days later, on April 7th, Nina Simone performed at the Westbury Music Fair. The following three songs, performed that evening (including Why? (The King of Love is Dead), which was a special tribute penned by Nina's bassist Gene Taylor, for the first time) were later dubbed the "Martin Luther King Suite."

With the exception of Mississippi Goddam, these songs can be found on Nina's album 'Nuff Said, although they're edited and the show is incomplete. If anyone reading this is aware of a complete and unedited recording of the show that night, please let me know about it.

Nina Simone - Sunday In Savanah (live) : The Very Best of Nina Simone, 1967-1972 : Sugar In My Bowl

Nina Simone - Why? (The King of Love is Dead) (live) : The Very Best of Nina Simone, 1967-1972 : Sugar In My Bowl

Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam(live) : The Very Best of Nina Simone, 1967-1972 : Sugar In My Bowl


If you are a teacher or parent who is interested in how you can fight hate and promote tolerance, please visit Tolerance.org and Teaching Tolerance.
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Denison Witmer - Are You A Dreamer? : Happy Birthday Denison (studio version on Are You A Dreamer?)

Johnny Cash - Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream (live) : At Madison Square Garden, 12/5/69

2 comments:

Maarten Das said...

I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for, but I have the album "Saga of the Good Life and Hard Times" on my computer which features the Martin Luther King suite as well.

Sean said...

Maarten,

I was hoping to find a complete recording of the show from that night. "Saga of the Good Life and Hard Times" is a collection of rarities that includes these songs, but not the rest of the show. Thanks for asking though.