Episode 132. Brock Peters (Black History Month 2022)
SOCIAL SHARE
SUBSCRIPTION PLATFORM
How often it happens that, even when an artist produces an august and varied body of work, that they are remembered only for a tiny fragment of their output? Such is the case with Brock Peters (1927 – 2005). Universally recognized and justly celebrated for his portrayal of Tom Robinson in the 1962 film version of To Kill a Mockingbird, Peters, born George Fisher, was also a superb singer who made his mark in a number of film musicals, as well as appearances in Broadway musicals and a series of folk albums recorded in the late 1950s and early 1960s. While the focus in this episode is on his musical accomplishments as a solo artist, I also discuss his early appearances in ensembles headed by Harry Belafonte, Leonard de Paur, and others; his jazz collaborations with Miles Davis, Randy Weston, and Duke Ellington; his other film roles; his exceptional work in voiceover and narration; and his late career singing appearances. That Brock Peters was a great actor is a given; that he was a great singer as well may be a delicious surprise to many. Guest vocal appearances by Adele Addison, Martha Flowers, Margaret Tynes, Marilyn Horne, and The Four Lads.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
J. Lewis: Big Red. Brock Peters, Paul Palmieri [live at The Village Gate, NYC 10.59]
Traditional, arr. Avery Robinson, Leonard de Paur: Water Boy. George Fisher [Brock Peters], De Paur’s Infantry Chorus, Leonard De Paur [1950]
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Du Bose Heyward: I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’ (Porgy and Bess). Brock Peters, Paul Belanger, Opera Society Orchestra and Chorus [1955]
Traditional, arr. George Fisher [Brock Peters]: 900 Miles (From My Home). Broc Peters, The Four Lads [1953]
Georges Bizet, Oscar Hammerstein II: Whizzing Away Along the Track (Carmen Jones). Brock Peters, Marilynn [sic] Horne, Bernice Peterson, Pearl Bailey (?), Orchestra conducted by Herschel Burke Gilbert [1954]
L. Moss, D. Goodman: Rockin’ Teens. Broc Peters, Dave McRae Orchestra [A Sidney Prosen Production, 1955]
Irving Burgie [Lord Burgie], Harry Belafonte: Island in the Sun. Harry Belafonte, Backup singers led by Brock Peters [1957]
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Du Bose Heyward: What You Want with Bess? (Porgy and Bess). Adele Addison, Brock Peters, Orchestra arranged and conducted by André Previn [1959]
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Du Bose Heyward: Bess, You Is My Woman Now (Porgy and Bess). Brock Peters, Margaret Tynes, Paul Belanger, Opera Society Orchestra [1955]
Richard Adler: A Man Can Have No Choice (Kwamina). Brock Peters, Orchestra conducted by Colin Romoff [1961]
Composer unknown, copyright held by Joe Primrose [né Irving Mills]: St. James Infirmary. Brock Peters, Paul Palmieri [live at The Village Gate, NYC 10.1959]
Traditional, arr. Brock Peters: Down by the Riverside. Brock Peters, Orchestra and chorus conducted by Jack Lewis [1959]
Traditional, arr. Brock Peters, D. Daniels: Way Yonder Far. Brock Peters, Ensemble led by Jo King (including Ray Barretto, Chief Bey [James Hawthorne Bey], George Duvivier, Sticks Evans [Samie Evans], Al Leas) [1961]
Traditional, arr. Brock Peters: Ro Kom Bay. Brock Peters, Orchestra conducted by Jack Lewis [1959]
John Jacob Niles: Go ‘Way from My Window. Brock Peters, Orchestra and chorus conducted by Jack Lewis [1959]
Michel La Rue: Nicodemus the Slave. Brock Peters, Paul Palmieri [live at The Village Gate NYC 10.1959]
Traditional, arr. Brock Peters: Another Man Done Gone. Brock Peters, Orchestra conducted by Jack Lewis [1959]
Traditional Spiritual: Wide Dark Troubled Waters. Brock Peters, Ensemble led by Jo King (including Ray Barretto, Chief Bey [James Hawthorne Bey], George Duvivier, Sticks Evans [Samie Evans], Al Leas) [1961]
Randy Weston: Where? Brock Peters, Randy Weston, Coleman Hawkins, Kenny Dorham, Wilbur Litte, Roy Haines [live at The Five Spot Café, NYC 26.X.1959]
Randy Weston, Langston Hughes: African Lady [from Uhuru Afrika]. Martha Flowers, Brock Peters, Randy Weston and Band [1960]
Traditional African, arr. Brock Peters: Akanna ginnagi [Mysterious Instinct] (with spoken introduction). Brock Peters, Ensemble led by Jo King (including Ray Barretto, Chief Bey [James Hawthorne Bey], George Duvivier, Sticks Evans [Samie Evans], Al Leas) [1961]
Duke Ellington: In the Beginning God (Sacred Concert No. 1). Brock Peters, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra [live New York 26.XII.1965]
Miles Davis: Yesternow [excerpt] (from A Tribute to Jack Johnson). Miles Davis, Brock Peters [1971]
Richard Wright: One evening I heard a tale that rendered me sleepless for nights (Black Boy). Brock Peters [1970]
Brian Daley: Your destiny lies with me, Skywalker (Star Wars NPR Radio Series) [1981-1993]
Earl Robinson, John Latouche, arr. Luther Henderson: Ballad for Americans [excerpt]. Brock Peters, Orchestra and chorus conducted by Leonard de Paur [1976]
Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg: The Eagle and Me (Bloomer Girl). Brock Peters, Orchestra arranged and conducted by Larry Blank [live Los Angeles 02.1995]
Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner: When You Grow Up You’ll Know (Huckleberry Finn). Brock Peters, Orchestra arranged and conducted by Ron Abel [live Los Angeles 01.1998]
Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson: Lost in the Stars (Lost in the Stars). Brock Peters, Orchestra arranged and conducted by Ron Abel [live Los Angeles 04.XI.2000]
Traditional African, arr. Brock Peters: Igama la bantwama [Lullaby] (with spoken introduction). Brock Peters, Ray Barretto [1961]