The York Theatre Company Honored by Rep. Charles Rangel in Congressional Record for BLIND LEMON BLUES

The YORK THEATRE COMPANY (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) proudly acknowledges the Hon. Charles B. Rangel for including their new show Blind Lemon Blues in the Congressional Record today. (Here is the complete text of Rep. Rangel's speech).

Honorable Charles B. Rangel of New York
In The House of Representatives
September 8, 2009

Special Tribute to Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Lemon Blues

Madame Speaker, as the famed York Theatre Company of New York celebrates its 40th anniversary, today I rise to recognize their newest musical genius, Blind Lemon Blues and to pay tribute to the Legendary Father of the Texas Blues, "Blind" Lemon Jefferson.

Blind Lemon Blues celebrates the legacy of Blind Lemon Jefferson and his profound influence upon the development of American popular music. Blind Lemon Blues is set in New York City in 1948 at the last recording session of the legendary Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, and combines elements of traditional blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, doo-wop, and rap to evoke the enduring legacy of Blind Lemon and his contemporaries, Blind Willie Johnson, Lillian Glinn, Hattie Hudson, Bobbie Cadillac, Lillian Miller and Lead Belly himself.

"Blind" Lemon Jefferson was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s, and has been titled "Father of the Texas Blues". Jefferson's singing and self-accompaniment were distinctive as a result of his high-pitched voice and originality on the guitar. He used Dallas as a base to launch an extraordinary blues career, during which he made over 80 recordings of his intricate melodic rhythms and influenced countless artists, including B.B. King. Other later blues and rock and roll musicians attempted to imitate both his songs and his musical style.

Often heralded as one of the most influential bluesmen of all time, "Blind" Lemon Jefferson was born blind near Coutchman, Texas in Freestone County, near present-day Wortham, Texas in September 1893. Jefferson was one of eight children born to sharecroppers Alex and Clarissa Jefferson. Jefferson began playing the guitar in his early teens, and soon after he began performing at picnics and parties. He also became a street musician, playing in East Texas towns in front of barbershops and on corners.

In the early 1920s, Jefferson traveled to Dallas, where he met Huddie "Leadbelly" Leadbetter and established the blues scene in Dallas' Deep Ellum district. Five years later, he was on the road of instant success. Between the years of 1925 and 1929, Jefferson made over 80 recordings for Paramount Records and became the first commercially successful male black artist. Some of his most notable recordings are "Black Snake Moan," "Boll Weevil Blues," "Matchbox Blues," and the song that would become his trademark, "See That My Grave is Kept Clean."

Jefferson died from mysterious circumstances on the streets of Chicago on December 22, 1929, and was buried in the old Wortham Negro Cemetery. His grave was unmarked until 1967, when a Texas state historical marker was dedicated to him. He was inducted in the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1997 the town of Wortham began a blues festival named for the singer, and a new granite headstone was placed at his gravesite -- a fitting tribute to the man who sang "...Lord, there's just one favor I ask of you, see that my grave is kept clean." In 2007 the name of the cemetery was changed to Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery.

So Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the good work of Director and Choreographer Akin Babatunde and Alan Govenar for such a magnificent rendition of the life of Blind Lemon Jefferson and those Blind Lemon Blues.

Performances for Blind Lemon Blues, featuring more than 60 Blind Lemon Jefferson songs, begins today September 8th, with Opening Night set for Tuesday, September 15th. All performances will be at the company's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (54th Street just east of Lexington Avenue). To purchase tickets, visit www.yorktheatre.org or call 212/935-5820.

Featured as Blind Lemon Jefferson is co-writer Akin Babatunde. His other credits include his one-man show written with his brother, celebrated actor Obba Babatunde, entitled Before the Second Set - a Visit with Satchmo, which has received critical acclaim at theaters across the country. Also featured in the cast are Cavin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples Yarbrough (of Yarbrough & Peoples, who received a Grammy nomination for the hit single "Don't Stop the Music"), Inga Ballard, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Timothy Parham, with Skip Krevens on guitar.

Blind Lemon Blues was created by Alan Govenar and Akin Babatunde, has musical arrangements by Akin Babatunde, Cavin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples Yarbrough, and is directed and choreographed by Mr. Babatunde. Scenic design is by Russel Parkman, lighting design by Steve Woods and costume design by Tommy Bourgeois. It will be presented by The York Theatre Company and Documentary Arts, in association with Central Track Productions.

Blind Lemon Blues pays homage to Blind Lemon Jefferson, America's best-selling country blues singer of the 1920s. The New York Times called this new musical "a lively and intelligent new musical. . . an inspiration." Seen briefly at the York in 2007, Blind Lemon Blues combines blues, gospel, R&B, soul, doo-wop and rap to evoke the enduring legacy of Blind Lemon and his contemporaries. Prepare to "go weak at the knees" as "Blind Lemon Jefferson's voice emerges with full force" (Variety).

Jefferson was a blind street musician who played his guitar with a tin cup tied to it until a Paramount Records scout discovered him. Between 1926 and 1929, Jefferson made more than 80 records and became the biggest selling down-home blues singer in America. Blind Lemon Blues is set in New York City in 1948 at the last recording session of the legendary Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, and combines elements of traditional blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, doo-wop, and rap to evoke the enduring legacy of Blind Lemon and his contemporaries Blind Willie Johnson, Lillian Glinn, Hattie Hudson, Bobbie Cadillac, Lillian Miller and Leadbelly himself.

Now in its 40th year, The York Theatre Company was nominated for five 2009 Drama Desk Awards, four 2009 Lucille Lortel Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, and two Drama League Awards for its productions of Enter Laughing, The Musical and My Vaudeville Man! last season. The York is the only theater in New York City - and one of very few in the world - dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals, as well as preserving gems from the past. Winner of a special Drama Desk Award for developing and producing new musical theatre, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused on new musicals in its Mainstage Series-most of them world, American, or New York premieres-by some of the field's most esteemed creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. A number of York's Mainstage productions, including The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd, have moved to commercial productions on Broadway and Off-. Musicals in Mufti series presents notable musicals from the past in simply-staged concert format. The York's Developmental Reading Series, which presents nearly 40 free readings of new musicals every year, was the incubator for the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q, among many other significant shows.

 

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