In the Classroom Out & About ..........................Pages 8,9

Jules Bledsoe, an outstanding and versatile baritone

By HERB BOYD

Special to the AmNews

Being the same age and performing a similar repertoire of music as Paul Robeson was not the most propitious time of life for Jules Bledsoe. Despite these disadvantages, he managed to carve out a niche and produce a marvelous corpus of folk and classical vocals.

Born Julius Lorenzo Cobb Bledsoe on July 14, 1898, to Henry and Jessie Cobb Bledsoe in Waco, Texas, he didn’t get a chance to truly experience nurturing from both parents who separated a year after his birth. With his mother, Jules went to live with her family and later attended the Central Texas Academy from 1905 to 1914. He excelled as a student and was honored as the valedictorian of his class. At Bishop College he earned his B.A. in 1918. His next academic stint was at Virginia Union College from 1918 to 1919, where he was a member of the ROTC (Reserved Officers’ Training Corps).

From 1920 to 1924, Jules studied medicine at Columbia University, at the same time, and even earlier, he devoted a considerable amount of time to his musical passion, studying under such esteemed mentors as Claude Warford, Luigi Parisotti, and Lazar Samoiloff. On April 20, 1924, under the sponsorship of the noted impresario Sol Hurok, he made his professional singing debut at Aeolian Hall in New York City.

Two years later, he appeared as Tizan in Frank Harling’s opera “Deep River.” In 1927, he was the first to perform as Joe in Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “Show Boat,” preceding Robeson and William Warfield. Several years before Robeson was singularly identified with the musical and the song “Ol’ Man River” he popularized the song.

Further demonstrating his versatility, Jules sang the role of Amonasro from Verdi’s “Aida” for the Chicago Opera’s production. He was unable to secure permission to create a musical setting for Eugene

O’Neill’s, “The Emperor Jones,” which had already been contracted to Louis Gruenberg and that lead role was given to the white baritone Lawrence Tibbett, who originated the role in 1933 and performed in blackface.

James Weldon Johnson, the great author and statesman, had said that only two singers could possibly fulfill that obligation—Paul Robeson or Jules Bledsoe. A year later in Amsterdam, Jules delivered his version of the haunted Black man on an island where he ruled with brutal authority. He

would feature that role in several other European cities and in New York City. His recording of the song was occasionally played on NPR musical theater program, “A Night on the Town.” Jules’s voice, with his riveting enunciation and splendid diction, is captured on a recording of vintage spirituals, including “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” An October 1925 concert at the Town Hall in New York City, featured a number of spirituals by Jules.

In 1927, Jules shared the stage with Rose McClendon, Abbie Mitchell, and Frank Wilson in Paul Green’s “In Abraham’s Bosom” which went on to earn Green a Pulitzer Prize. Interestingly, to continue the Robeson-Bledsoe relationship, in 1928 Robeson stepped in and replaced Bledsoe as Crown in the production of “Porgy.” One of his outstanding roles was in the title character of Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov.” Between 1929 and 1930, he appeared in three musical films “Shorts—Old Man Trouble,” “On the Levee,” and “Dear Old Southland.” In the early ’40s, he worked in Hollywood with credited and uncredited roles, most memorable is the part of Kalu in “Drums of the Congo.” Jules died in Hollywood on July 24 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, a city-owned cemetery in Waco. His papers, as well as sheet music, photographs, letters, and other memorabilia are housed in the Texas Collection at Baylor University. A recreation facility in Waco is jointly named the Bledsoe-Miller Community Center, in honor of Jules and Doris Miller.

ACTIVITIES

FIND OUT MORE

The archives collection under his name at Baylor University in Waco has a full complement of Bledsoe memorabilia.

DISCUSSION

There is certainly a lot more to do with the relationship and perhaps competition between him and Paul Robeson.

PLACE IN CONTEXT

Born at the end of the 19th century, Bledsoe only lived to about half of the next century but made a lasting impression on the world of classical music.

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY

Jan. 24, 1993: Famed jurist Thurgood Marshall dies in Bethesda, Md. He was 84.

Jan. 24, 1874: Extraordinary historian and archivist Arturo Schomburg is born in Puerto Rico. He died in 1938.

Jan, 24, 1962: Jackie Robinson, baseball immortal, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Eric Adams was among the electeds who attended the janazah (funeral), as were Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin.

Distraught and grieving, the city was shook when billowing black smoke from a high-rise fire took 17 lives, nine of them children, the youngest being Ousmane Konteh, a 2-year-old boy, and the oldest being Haji Dukary, a 49-year-old man. Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 11 Gambians, including six children, were killed.

Last week the Imam Souleimane Konaté stated, “That is where the majority of the victims were from; there were also people from Mali, Senegal, and Guinea.”

On Sunday, Jan. 9, 200 firefighters put out the fire and rescued residents at 333 East 181st Street also known as Twin Parks North West. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) reported that a space heater in a third-floor apartment ignited a fire, which sent choking smoke through all floors of the 19-story, 120 unit building.

It has become known as New York’s deadliest fire in three decades, since the 1990 Bronx Happy Land blaze which killed 87 people.

Early reports seemed to apportion blame on the third floor residents who did not close the self-closing door as they fled the fire engulfing their apartment.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro was to later conjecture that the door “malfunctioned.” The day after the deadly fire he also said, “Certain buildings can be built under different standards.” He said of Twin Parks North West, “It was potentially built outside the New York City Fire Code.”

“No one will ever blame the residents,” Drammeh assured, “it was the malfunction door that did not close. The father did what anyone would do to rescue his family. It is the neglect and greedy investors to blame. It is not the tenant’s fault. The door should have functioned how it was supposed to.”

Residents had complained about heat and the non-functioning self-closing doors. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development had cited the Fordham building for over two dozen violations including vermin infestations and non-operational elevators.

As billion dollar lawsuits are already being filed by affected residents, the building’s history is being reviewed.

Built in 1972 by the state Urban Development Corporation, the present Empire State Development Corporation, the building was sold in 2019 by Cammeby’s International Group to Bronx Park Phase III Preservation LLC, a consortium of investors including: Belveron Partners, LIHC Investment Group, and Camber Property Group.

This week hoping to “help advance a culture of safety in housing,” Rep. Ritchie Torres and Sen. Chuck Schumer proposed a four-point plan to address issues exposed by the horrendous Bronx fire. Saying they expected bipartisan support, the duo suggested federal legislation would have federal funds to install self-closing doors in federally funded multifamily buildings; install subsidized sprinklers in said buildings; invite focused federal authority in similar fire investigations; and demand that space heaters have automatic shut-off components.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 25, Torres said, “Simple things like self-closing doors can prevent largescale causal consequences from a fire. Therefore, we will propose a law requiring all federal-funded home developments, such as Twin Parks North West, to have self-closing doors, and landowners will inspect the self-closing doors on a regular basis. And must be certified under an oath.”

From the very first day of the morning fire, the city saw a massive outpouring of emotion, donations, and communication. Over a million dollars was raised, food, clothes, toiletries and toys were given in abundance. The story was front-page and headline news for several consecutive days.

“The response from every facet of society from the government agencies in the Bronx, and transformed it into one of the most triumphant experiences for the community because of the response,” said Drammeh. “The pain and suffering of all parties involved have had their needs—immediate or what will be—addressed in the best ways possible. Every issue raised has been addressed immediately to satisfaction.”

Protective of their privacy, and recent trauma, when asked how survivors are doing, Drammeh replied, “We are managing now, we are grateful. Most of them are in local hotels. There are those who went back, because the fire was an isolated problem. It was the door that was left wide open and the smoke is what killed all the people who died. Some families are so traumatized that they don’t want to go back. The city said they don’t have to go back.”

The activist said that the nature of African families should be taken into account.

“We often live with extended family members, which requires more space, and that might require extra time to address. We still have families still in the hospital, 8 or 10 people with various conditions. Bronx Works is also helping those affected.”

Asked if the mental health needs of the Bronx fire families are being taken into consideration, Drammeh said, “1000 percent. Mental health and trauma experts have pledged long term help with mental health issues. The families are doing well because the city realized the magnitude of the situation, and provided all conceivable services. They identified their needs, and said they would be taken care of long term.”

He added, “This is New York, so of course some people will complain, but every requested service has been met or is being worked on. My job here is not just to represent the community, but to get all the resources that they need. We don’t want professional complainers and opportunists to affect the services rendered to us. We say our government from top to bottom came through, right on time.”

Invitation to Prequalify and to Bid

Rehabilitation and Flood Mitigation of the New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, NY: Turner Construction Company, an EEO Employer, is currently soliciting bids for the Rehabilitation and Flood Mitigation of the New York Aquarium from subcontractors and vendors for the following bid packages:

BP #057– Existing Conditions Scan to BIM Services (Bid, Payment & Performance Bond Required)

BP #053 – Security/Fire Watch Services (Bid, Payment & Performance Bond Required)

BP #058 – Temporary Sanitary Facilities (Bid, Payment & Performance Bond Required)

BP #047 – Tile Flooring (Bid, Payment & Performance Bond Required)

BP #049 – Mirrors & Glazing (Bid, Payment & Performance Bond Required)

Only bids responsive to the entire scope of work will be considered and, to be successful, bidders must be prequalified by Turner. Certified M/WBE and Small Business (13 CFR part 121) companies are encouraged to submit. In order to receive the bid packages, potential bidders either (1) must initiate the prequalification process by submitting a Subcontractor/Vendor Prequalification Statement to Turner, or (2) must be prequalified based on a prior submission to Turner. (Note: Prior prequalification submissions that remain current will be considered as previously submitted or may be updated at this time.) All bidders must be prequalified by the bid deadline: March 7th, 2022 and initial submission of a prequalification statement not later than March 7th, 2022 is strongly encouraged. All bidders must have an acceptable EMR, and will be subject to government regulations such as 44 CFR and Federal Executive Order 11246. Successful bidders will be required to use LCP Tracker compliance verification software. Note that while this is a New York City prevailing wage project, union affiliation is not required for BP #057, #053, #058, #0447 or #049.

A Webcast about the above Bid Package/s will be held on February 11, 2022. Attendance is optional for all; the Webcast is designed to assist potential M/WBE subcontractors/vendors. Link: Please join this meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupjoin/19%3ameeting_NDJmNmIxYjktODNiOC00NjZjLTllZDMtZjhhMDdjNDUwNmM5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3 a%2220e27700-b670-4553-a27c-d8e2583b3289%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22732a90ce-24b7-42eb-bf78-d638e2a629ac%22%7d

To obtain further information about contracting opportunities and/or the prequalification package and bid solicitation package/s, please contact Dolores Wooden, lspangel@tcco.com 646-842-1659. The date for the virtual public opening at the Turner Construction Company office located at 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York, is March 8th, 2022 9 AM Link: Please join this opening meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupjoin/19%3ameeting_MDI0Mzk3MWUtYmE0Mi00Y2MxLTg0ZmQtYWIyYWMyNjgwZjli%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b %22Tid%22%3a%2220e27700-b670-4553-a27c-d8e2583b3289%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22732a90ce-24b7-42ebbf78-d638e2a629ac%22%7d