Black History Month Specials

Listen to Radio Catskill every Tuesday Night at 9PM this February as we celebrate Black History Month with a series of special music documentaries.

Produced by Sue Clark of The BBC for the African American Public Radio Consortium, these documentaries dive deep into the lives and music of iconic artists Donny Hathaway, Fela Kuti, and Curtis Mayfield.

And, before each of these documentaries, don’t miss Music Emporium, where host Kusar Grace will celebrate Black History Month by bringing a little bit of history and a lot of good music.

That’s a Black-History-Month-edition of Music Emporium with Kusar Grace at 7PM, and special music documentaries at 9PM, every Tuesday night in February, only on Radio Catskill.

WHERE IS THE LOVE: THE DONNY HATHAWAY STORY
Hosted by Roberta Flack
Tuesday, February 11 at 9pm

Donny Hathaway was a songwriter, vocalist, pianist, and arranger with a passionate sound that was unique, and instantly recognizable to this day. His ability to express powerful emotions through music was awe inspiring. His peers considered him a genius.

The AAPRC Network is pleased to present Where is the Love: The Donny Hathaway Story, told by his fellow Howard University alum, artistic collaborator and dear friend, Roberta Flack. Through music and voice clips from his family, fellow musicians, radio personalities and recording executives, Roberta takes us through Hathaway’s meteoric rise, up to the tragic end of his brief life.

Donny Hathaway released only three albums, and several iconic duets with Roberta Flack. Yet, countless artists across generations and ethnicities cite him as a major influence in their careers.

The small body of work that Donny Hathaway left behind is considered iconic. Our sincere thanks to U.K. Producer Sue Clark for bringing the story of this deeply cherished artist to public radio.

THE AFROBEAT REVOLUTIONARY: FELA KUTI
Hosted by Neneh Cherry
Tuesday, February 18 at 9pm

To some, he was a great composer and bandleader, to others a prophet, and to others a revolutionary—and Fela Anikulapo Kuti inhabited all of these spaces simultaneously. Born in Nigeria, Fela was Africa’s first international cultural icon.

Hosted by Neneh Cherry, the documentary reveals Fela’s life dedicated to fighting for human rights, despite the personal cost.

A 1960s trip to the U.S. introduced Fela to the Black Consciousness movement, shaping his music and politics. His performances captivated audiences, but his politically charged lyrics about African military rule, corruption, and poverty made him a target. Jailed over 200 times, he continued performing until his death.

Fela’s influence extended globally, with artists like Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown visiting his club, “The Shrine.” His legacy endures through artists like Roy Hargrove, Common, Macy Gray, and his son, Femi Kuti. This compelling portrayal includes Fela’s music, personal clips, and stories from those who knew him.

A MAN LIKE CURTIS
Hosted by Lenny Kravitz
Tuesday, February 25 at 9pm

Lenny Kravitz, a lifelong fan of Curtis Mayfield, celebrates his life and musical achievements in this documentary.

Curtis was a prolific songwriter whose career was cut short following a tragic accident in 1990. He died in 1999, aged only 57. His songs influenced millions and he was an inspiration to musicians including Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.

The documentary concentrates on Curtis’ early musical influences: his gospel beginnings, the songs he wrote for Jerry Butler, and his early Impressions’ hits; looks at Curtis’ protest songs, chart success and his ‘blaxploitation’ movie theme Superfly; and takes us up to his appearance at the 1983 Glastonbury Festival.