- This event has passed.
King Sophia
The fourth musical focus in this series will be one of the most potent and under-discussed jazz vocalists, Betty Carter. Lovingly nicknamed Betty Bebop by Lionel Hampton’s wife and mentored by Dizzy Gillespie, Carter is beloved amongst jazz listeners for her unique vocal tone, her melodic precision, and her iconic scatting skills. However, most may not know how accomplished she was in composition, music business, and music education; between starting one of the first artist-led independent record labels, creating a Kennedy Center jazz education program that’s lasted over 25 years, and being one of the last prominent band singers of the era, her influence overall was massive — so much so that President Bill Clinton eventually awarded her the National Medal of the Arts. In this lecture, we will highlight her many talents and pay special attention to the incredible songs she composed through storytelling and through performances by the King’s Trio. The movie component for this episode will be Carter’s award-winning documentary. Still, Then, She’s Betty Carter, written and directed by Michelle Parkerson, is a significant contribution to the 1980s renaissance of Black Queer artistry and activism. We will spend some time discussing Parkerson’s and the film’s cultural relevance and political significance, as well as Carter’s own profound cultural footprint.
