Ovation TV Premieres “American Revolutionaries: Rock 'n' Soul”

Hosted by Lynn Whitfield, the Three-Week Event Features Documentaries and Films about Revolutionary Black Musicians

LOS ANGELES – June 15, 2009   For the third year running, Ovation TV, the only television channel dedicated to art and contemporary culture, is using Independence Day to launch a tribute to a group of  extraordinary “American Revolutionaries.”  This year, the focus is on legendary Black musicians who influenced and shaped the music of today.  Hosted by actress Lynn Whitfield, “American Revolutionaries:  Rock ‘n’ Soul” will kick off Wednesday, July 1 and continue through Saturday, July 18. 

“This year, we’re turning the spotlight on some of the most innovative and influential Black artists in music history.  These are musicians and vocalists who invented and refined much of what we call American Music today.  They set the course for many of the most popular artists of our time, from Elvis, the Beatles and Bob Dylan to John Mayer, Mary J. Blige and Jack White,” said Kris Slava, SVP of Programming, Ovation TV.   “For ‘American Revolutionaries:  Rock ‘n’ Soul,’ we’ve assembled over 50 artists, ranging from jazz to blues and rock to rap.  The shows include insightful documentaries, film dramatizations and, of course, powerful performances.”

Highlights from “American Revolutionaries:  Rock ‘n Soul” include:

•    The Jimi Hendrix Experience:  American Landing – OVATION TV PREMIERE, Wednesday, July 1, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.   This film celebrates the 40th anniversary of Hendrix’s legendary Monterey Pop Festival performance and triumphant return to the US after achieving success throughout Europe.  Tracing his remarkable journey from virtual obscurity in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1966 to his enormous worldwide success, the film also features interviews with drummer Mitch Mitchell, bassist Noel Redding, producer and manager Chas Chandler, Monterey promoters Lou Adler and John Phillips, Pete Townsend, Michelle Phillips, Derek Taylor, Andrew Oldham and many others.  Also included is footage from his remarkable Monterey performance.

•    Welcome to Deathrow – OVATION TV PREMIERE, Thursday, July 2, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.   This the definitive documentary on the most compelling story in the history of rap music – the rise and fall of Death Row Records.  The film takes viewers from the recording label’s ghetto beginnings to its release of an unprecedented six consecutive multi-platinum albums, making stars of Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg and others before crashing down amid tales of violent business practices and the murder of Tupac.

•    Bird – Sunday, July 5, 12:00 Noon and 4:00 p.m. ET/PT.  Directed by Clint Eastwood, this remarkable film tells the story of legendary jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker, powerfully portrayed by Forest Whitaker.  Released theatrically in 1988, this film has won numerous awards, including the Golden Globe for Clint Eastwood as Best Director and the Best Actor award for Forest Whitaker at the Cannes Film Festival.

•    Masters of American Music:  Sarah Vaughan – OVATION TV PREMIERE, Tuesday, July 7, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.  Ella Fitzgerald called her the world’s "greatest singing talent."  This documentary examines Sarah Vaughan’s incredible career, which spanned nearly 50 years.  She was the singer’s singer, influencing everyone from Mel Torme to Anita Baker. 

•    Miles Electric:  A Different Kind of Blue – OVATION TV PREMIERE, Saturday, July 11, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.   When he released "Bitches Brew" in 1970, Miles Davis opened up a new angle to jazz which stirred up emotions like no other record before. "Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue" examines the next step in the creative process...performing these songs live. Directed by award-winning producer Murray Lerner, "Miles Electric" features interviews with several of the performers who played with Miles during his famous 1970 Isle of Wight performance, as well as interviews with artists such as Carlos Santana and Joni Mitchell, who describe the impact Miles Davis had on their music.

•    The Search for Robert Johnson – Sunday, July 12, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
In this documentary, John Hammond, Jr. explores the life and times of legendary bluesman, Robert Johnson, as he travels through the small towns of the Mississippi Delta and interviews several of Robert Johnson's contemporaries and acquaintances.


Host Lynn Whitfield is a prolific actress who was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for her lead performance in HBO’s “The Josephine Baker Story.”  Ms. Whitfield will provide insight and information on the eclectic and rich variety of featured artists during the three-week “American Revolutionaries:  Rock ‘n’ Soul” programming event.

About Ovation TV: Ovation TV is the only multi-platform network devoted to art and contemporary culture. The network creates and curates one-of-a-kind programming about all the art people enjoy most, from the popular to the avant-garde and everything in between. The channel reaches a national audience of 33 million households through carriage on DirecTV (channel 274), Dish Network (channel 157) and on cable and telco systems in major markets across the country. Ovation TV’s programming is also available on video on demand (in both standard and high definition) in the US. Ovation TV’s popular website (http://www.OvationTV.com) is a dynamic experience, featuring information about local and national happenings in the art world, as well as a vibrant community of artists who have downloaded over 70,000 pieces of original art.

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CONTACT:
Patricia Frith
Patricia Frith Marketing (for Ovation TV)
Tel:  +1 818 8760-0480
Email:  pfmarketing@roadrunner.com

Images available at http://www.OvationTV.com/press