Dear Shaded Viewers,
Today my friend and I went to see the Rock’n’Roll exhibit at the Fondations Cartier. When you enter, you will find a projection room on your right where a wonderful documentary is screened. The film was directed by Patrick Montgomery and Pamela Page, Rock ‘n’Roll: The Early Days. It goes from the boogie woogie to the beginning of rock and roll.
If you’ve ever been attracted to the 1950’s you will enjoy both the music and the style. It also puts on display the 1950’s race problems and gives a good idea of what talented black musicians had to confront at that time. Record labels used white singers as covers because the same songs would sell much better if the cover was white. The politicians were like the McCarthy witch hunt hating blacks and fearing that rock n roll was ruining the American youth.
Jerry Lee Lewis created a scandel when he married his 13 year old cousin. It destroyed his career. You’ll love watching him play his heart out with Great Balls of Fire, the same goes for little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly.If you’ve never heard of any of these musicians now is a good time to discover their work. Their are head phones everywhere. Strong 1950’s tv shows and graphics and film clips will help to plunge you into another space and time. I don’t know if it is a coincidence but it is rather amusing that the remake of Hairspray is out at the same time.
Photographer Alfred Wertheeimer did a great reportage in 1956 on Elvis Presely. Along with the radios, microphones, pick-ups, juke box, you also have a Cadillac which in those days was considered the ultimate status symbol. You can also enjoy the sound studio which is pretty wild. The show is up until October 28th, if you are passing through Paris, I highly recommend it.
Later,
Diane
