BLACK AND BLUE

With the Tony awards coming up I started to recollect my favorite acceptance speeches. One that sticks out in my mind is from Ruth Brown's best actress in a musical win. Referring to the steps leading to the stage, she said something to the effect that it took her eight years to climb those eight steps.

I was so moved. Apparently she had lost her career and at one point was working as maid just to survived.

Anyway...about the show itself.

Ruth Brown and Linda Hopkins seized the audience by just showing up.

I knew nothing about either of them and was bug-eyed at the shear command of their stage presence... and of course talent.

I'm not one for "just singing" and "just dancing" onstage, but this show had a powerful dignity about it that, for me, elevated beyond being just entertaining.

PBS broadcast a truncated version of the show that showed backstage entrances and exits. It is a nice document, but nothing like the glamorous,easy and electric pride you felt while watching the the live performance.

Ruth Brown singing BODY AND SOUL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-tdUkNBtdM

Tony Performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvp9LTElhYQ

Anyone else remember this gorgeous 1989 revue?

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Updated On: 6/9/11 at 02:32 PM