Jul 2, 2021

The Vanishing of Harry Pace: Episode 5

Roland Hayes and the Lost Generation. 

Here’s the extraordinary story of Roland Hayes, another great (and largely forgotten) creator of new cosmologies.

The Vanishing of Harry Pace was created and produced by Shima Oliaee and Jad Abumrad. 

This series was produced in collaboration with author Kiese Laymon, scholar Imani Perry, writer Cord Jefferson, WQXR’s Terrance McKnight, and WNYC's Jami Floyd. Based on the book Black Swan Blues: the Hard Rise and Brutal Fall of America’s First Black Owned Record Label by Paul Slade. Featuring interviews with Pace's descendants and over forty musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy.

This episode featured scenes from Christopher Brooks' and Robert Sims' biography, Roland Hayes: The Legacy of an American Tenor. Thank you to actor William Jackson Harper for helping us bring Berlin to life. 

This episode featured the following music:

Robert Sims Sings the Spirituals of Roland Hayes

Bill Doggett's collection of Black Swan records 

Black Swans: The First Recordings of Black Classical Music Performers 

Du Bist Die Ruh by Roland Hayes 

Were You There by Roland Hayes 

Vesti La Giubba by Roland Hayes

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