ARTS&LIFE MUSIC
Funkadelic!
Don Was celebrates music of legendary George Clinton in Concert of Colors program. SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
COURTESY OF MARX LAYNE
D
on Was, famed music performer and producer, brings two noteworthy twists to this year’s Concert of Colors as he once again presents his Detroit All-Star Revue. Preparing for a salute to R&B Superstar George Clinton, Was can recall his introduction to the legendary composerperformer. In Don Was the ninth grade at Oak Park’s Clinton — that’s right, Clinton — Junior High, Was became a fan by watching George Clinton in a special school performance hosted by a local DJ to promote a Clinton recording. Putting together an eight-member band for his upcoming show to be broadcast at 9 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, on WTVS, Was invited percussionist Larry Fratangelo, who played on Clinton records and toured with Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic. Fratangelo also played on the records of the popular Was group Was (Not Was). The many performance and discussion sessions of the 29th annual free Concert of Colors run Aug. 2-9 with live, broadcast, streamed and hybrid presentations at various venues to celebrate
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diversity. “George Clinton made some of the most significant R&B records ever right in Detroit using a lot of musicians from this area,” Was explained about his choice for this year’s theme. “Everything that he recorded made his influence pervasive across the board. He changed the face of music a couple of times. WAS’ TESTIMONIAL “George was born in Detroit and did a great body of work here. I consider him to be among the greatest contributions to Detroit music. My very favorite Clinton song to perform is ‘I Just Want to Testify.’” That song was introduced to Was at that junior high program. It was lip-synched and featured dance steps performed in ways similar to the Temptations but in hippie dress instead of tuxedos. “No one had ever seen that in R&B before,” Was said. “I think George even preceded Jimi Hendrix. There was a blending of psychedelic culture and rhythm and blues. It blew my mind [combined with] uplifting lyrics.” Was, based in California, has been spending more time in Michigan since April, when he began a weekly WDET radio program, The
Don Was Motor City Playlist, co-hosted with Don Was can be seen at 9 Ann Delisi, WDET and 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, music host. It runs on on WTVS, Channel 56. For a Detroit’s NPR station, lineup of Concert of Colors 101.9 WDET-FM, and programming, Aug. 2-9, go to streams worldwide. concertofcolors.com. The show, with broadcasts starting at 10 p.m. Fridays, builds on Was’ experiences as a multiprogressive rabbi out of Los Grammy winner who has Angeles, Naomi Levy, who been recognized as a bassist, has a congregation called producer and president of Neshuva. Attended by Was Blue Note Records. family members appreciating “The radio program is the music orientation, my favorite thing to do on the programming was earth,” Was said. “It’s been at communicated to Was, who the top of my bucket list. In oversaw the studio progress. the late ’60s, when I was in This will be the 14th high school, I used to listen year Was has been slotted to a show on WDET called into the Concert of Colors. Jazz Today hosted by Bud During his first year, he Spangler, a local drummer appreciated the diverse music who played with the coolest representations but noted bands. It was always my Detroit music was missing dream to have that show. and wanted to add that “I mentioned that to Ann, element in future years. the queen of Detroit radio, “The beautiful thing about and she arranged for us to the Detroit that I grew up in do that together. We have during the ’50s and ’60s was so much fun. I love picking that the people came from the songs and preparing all over the country and all something to say about each over the world to work in the one of them.” factories here and brought As Was presents the radio their cultures with them,” he show, he is often appearing said. remotely because of other “I think that makes Detroit commitments. Maintaining a great place to celebrate all an interest in his Jewish those different cultures, and heritage, Was (family name I think Concert of Colors is a Fagenson) produced a beautiful festival that’s being religious recording. held in exactly the right The album was for a spot.”
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