About
Inspired by the music and subjects featured in the series “Godfather of Harlem,” this documentary series brings alive the dramatic true story of Harlem and its music during the 1960s, and connects that history to our present moment.
Cast
Forest Whitaker
as Self
Giancarlo Esposito
as Self
Ilfenesh Hadera
as Self
Gladys Knight
as Self
Martha Reeves
as Self
Jamal Joseph
as Self
Herbie Hancock
as Self
Markuann Smith
as Self
Denise Oliver-Velez
as Self
Gary Bartz
as Self
Joe Baatan
as Self
Al Sharpton
as Self
Felipe Luciano
as Self
Nile Rodgers
as Self
Adger W. Cowans
as Self
Robin Clark
as Self
Charles Rangel
as Self
A$AP Ferg
as Self
Chika
as Self
Carlos Alomar
as Self
Seasons
Episodes
Season 1
Mecca
The 'cultural capital of Black America,' 1960s Harlem faces problems and rising tensions as all over the country, civil rights protests proliferate. As the decade unfolds, music gives voice to a community fighting for justice.
Freedom Songs
A musical, political and spiritual revolution gains momentum across Black America, inspiring Jazz greats John Coltrane, Charlie Mingus and Max Roach to express their activism through their instruments, and Abbey Lincoln to vocalize her pain in song.
Crossroads
The rich diversity of the Harlem population shapes new forms of music that draw on different sounds and styles heard around the neighborhood, like R&B, jazz, soul, mambo, blues, and 'boogaloo,' all of which reflect the common goal of racial justice.
Power
New voices like the Black Panthers offer a message to Black America: reform is not enough; it's time for revolution. The call for Black Power sparks a cultural shift not just in Harlem, but around the world, as Black music infiltrates the mainstream.
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