Prof. Wald at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

ByGWEnglish
That’s me at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in conversation with Lauren Onkey last week.

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at a screening of the new documentary Godmother of Rock: The Rosetta Tharpe Story at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. The event kicked off the Rock Hall’s Black History Month celebration, which this year focuses on black musicians on film.

The screening paired the Tharpe documentary with the 1929 film St. Louis Blues, which contains the only extant footage of blues singer Bessie Smith (who does a nice turn as the Wronged Woman). It was followed after by a lively Q&A session moderated by Dr. Lauren Onkey (an English Ph.D. and former professor!). Click here for footage of the Q&A.

Next month the Rock Hall opens a “Women in Rock” exhibit, which will continue through next year. And book your tickets now for Cleveland in January 2012, when the Rock Hall will open its Library and Archives, a fabulous public facility which will instantly become an important resource for anyone interested in American music.

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