Gospel choir performs at screening of “How They Got Over” at Red Cliffs Theaters
Evening dedicated to Aretha Franklin
By Della Lowe
On Sept. 4 at the grand opening of the Docutah Red Cliffs Theaters, the 2018 DSU DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival has added a performance by the Victory Missionary Baptist Church from Las Vegas in advance of the free drive-in movie screening of “How They Got Over.” The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in front of the Red Cliffs Theaters. The performance and screening are free and open to the public.
“How They Got Over” is a feature-length documentary about the African-American quartets who traveled the back roads of the Deep South in the 1930s and ‘40s, creating a hard gospel sound and vigorous performing style that foreshadowed doo-wop, rhythm and blues, soul, and Motown.
With the Dixie Hummingbirds, Blind Boys of Alabama and Mississippi, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Soul Stirrers, Fairfield Four, Sensational Nightingales, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Highway QCs, and more, legendary musicians like James Brown got their ideas from the impressive, dramatic performances of Afro-American gospel quartets that played in churches and on local radio stations, and later at concert halls starting in the 1930s.
The documentary is about the evolution of these quartets and illustrates how this often originally religious harmony singing developed into more secular songs with instruments, multiple vocalists, passion, and sold-out shows. Their stories and those of other genre lovers are augmented by seldom-seen archival concert footage.
We are thrilled to have this great gospel choir join us at the ninth season of DOCUTAH and add a very special tribute to Aretha Franklin. Each year, we want to give back to our community, which gives us so much love, something of value, and something uplifting. By adding a wonderful music performance in advance of the screening of this iconic documentary, “How They Got Over,” which traces the history of gospel quartets and the path to rock and roll, we feel that we are honoring the community, our festival, and the film.
The entire evening will start at 6:30 p.m. with a classic car show as audience members park their cars in preparation for the drive-in movie. The film will begin After the performance and once the sun disappears to allow for optimal viewing. Audio for the film will be broadcast to cars via an FM channel. It is suggested that attendees bring a chair or two if they wish to sit outside their cars.
Articles related to “Gospel choir performs at screening of ‘How They Got Over’ at Red Cliffs Theaters”
“Neither Wolf Nor Dog” opens at Coral Cliffs Cinema 8 in Hurricane
John D. Smitherman stars in “My Broadway: Music of the Night” at Kayenta
