Academic Talk

Henry Sapoznik: The Lost World of African American Cantors 1916-1953 from “The Tourist’s Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City.” (Excelsior Press)

Academic Talk

Henry Sapoznik: The Lost World of African American Cantors 1916-1953 from “The Tourist’s Guide to Lost Yiddish New York City.” (Excelsior Press)

In his new book on the cultural history of Yiddish New York, Sapoznik goes beyond the familiar narrative of how Jewish performers and entrepreneurs adopted and adapted Black vernacular music — ragtime, jazz, swing, R&B, and blues — as artists, promoters, and producers. Instead, he reveals the lesser-known story of the reverse: African Americans who performed Yiddish and cantorial music for Jewish communities in theaters, on record, on radio, and in concert between the World Wars.

The talk will introduce audiences to several of these remarkable figures, including Rabbi David Kolscritta, Abraham Ben Benjamin Franklin, Thomas LaRue Jones, and Gladys Mae Sellers — the first and only known Black woman cantor of this period. It will feature slides of period Yiddish newspaper previews, ads, and reviews, as well as the only known recording of Thomas LaRue Jones, a 1923 Yiddish and Hebrew 78 rpm disc.

Admission is free, but registration is encouraged.

Reception to follow.

This event is made possible by the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and the UCLA Department of African American Studies.

Details

When

Oct 28 — 7:00 PM

Location

Lani Hall | Schoenberg Music Building
445 Charles E. Young Drive East
Los Angeles, 90095

Get directions

Price

Free with registration

More information

Parking

Self-service parking is available at UCLA’s Parking Structure #2 for events in Schoenberg Music Building and the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center. Costs range from $4 for 1 hour to $15 for all day. Evening rates (after 4 p.m.) are $3-$5 for 1 to 2 hours and $10 for all night. Learn more about campus parking.

Accessibility

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is eager to provide a variety of accommodations and services for access and communications. If you would like to request accommodations, please do so 10 days in advance of the event by emailing ADA@schoolofmusic.ucla.edu or calling (310) 825-0174.

Photography

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Food and Drink

Food and drink may not be carried into the theaters. Thank you!

Acknowledgment

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). As a land grant institution, we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.