Episode 313. Get to Know Gilbert Price

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If you have never heard of Gilbert Price, this episode will remedy that situation. With a voice that was easily produced, full-ranged, tonally refulgent, and technically poised, the three-time Tony nominee, who lived from 1942 to 1991, deserves to be more fully remembered for his deeply expressive portrayals, including the lead role role in Leonard Bernstein’s failed Bicentennial musical, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He also starred in Timbuktu!, Promenade, The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, and Langston Hughes’s 1964 musical pageant Jerico-Jim Crow, which also featured Micki Grant in one of her first featured roles. (This episode was originally produced the day after Ms. Grant died, so it is particularly appropriate that she is prominently featured.) Gilbert Price is also heard in numerous live stage performances (including an early live performance of the original version of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue), a number of live television performances, and four obscure singles that he recorded for Columbia Records in the late 1960s. And just for the holidays, there is a stunning performance of the young Gilbert Price performing “O Holy Night” on The Merv Griffin Show.

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II: Old Man River (Show Boat). Gilbert Price [The Ed Sullivan Show, 1967]

C. Bernard Jackson, James Hatch: Fly Blackbird (Fly Blackbird). Avon Long, Robert Guillaume, Mary Louise, Thelma Oliver, Chele Abel, Micki Grant, William Sugihara, Paul Reid Roman, Jim Bailey, Gail Ziferstein, Jack Crowder, Gilbert Price, Orchestra conducted by Gershon Kingsley [1962]

Langston Hughes: The Weary Blues. Langston Hughes, Doug Parker and his Band [CBC-TV 1958]

We Shall Overcome (Jerico-Jim Crow). Gilbert Price, Micki Grant, Professor Porter, Marion Franklin, Warren Smith [1964]

Traditional Spiritual: Watch and Pray [Is Massa Gwine to Sell Us Tomorrow] (Jerico-Jim Crow). Gilbert Price, William Cain, Rosalie King, Chorus [Mosley Brown, William Coleman, Reuben Greer, Martin Jewell, Marquette Miller, Vivian Moore, Metrogene Myles, John Russel, Brock Willia], Professor Porter, Marion Franklin, Warren Smith [1964]

God’s Gonna Cut You Down. Gilbert Price, Dorothy Drake, William Cain, Professor Porter, Marion Franklin, Warren Smith [1964]

My Mind on Freedom (Jerico-Jim Crow). Gilbert Price, Micki Grant, William Cain, Professor Porter, Marion Franklin, Warren Smith [1964]

Langston Hughes: Freedom Land (Jerico-Jim Crow)., Gilbert Price, Micki Grant, Joseph Attles, Professor Porter, Marion Franklin, Warren Smith [1964]

Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse: Feeling Good (The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd). Gilbert Price, Orchestra conducted by Herbert Grossman [1965]

Al Carmines, María Irene Fornés: A Poor Man (Promenade). Gilbert Price, Ty McConnell, Orchestra conducted by Al Carmines [1969]

Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner: They Call the Wind Maria (Paint Your Wagon). Gilbert Price, Merv Griffin [The Merv Griffiin Show, 15 July 1966]

Walter Marks: I’ve Gotta Be Me (Golden Rainbow). Gilbert Price [The Ed Sullivan Show, 27 July 1969]

Will Holt, David Baker, arr. Arnold Goland: Come Summer (title song from the show of the same name). Gilbert Price, Orchestra conducted by Mike Preston [1969]

Leon Carr, Richard Ahlert: Gatherin’ Sweet Moss. Gilbert Price, Orchestra arranged and conducted by Harold Wheeler [1970]

Leonard Bernstein, Alan Jay Lerner: Lud’s Wedding (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue). Gilbert Price, Emily Yancy, Bruce Hubbard, Orchestra conducted by Ronald Gagnon [Philadelphia 1976]

Leonard Bernstein, Alan Jay Lerner: Seena (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue). Gilbert Price, Orchestra conducted by Ronald Gagnon [Philadelphia 1976]

Robert Wright, George Forrest, after Alexander Borodin: Stranger in Paradise (Timbuktu!), Gilbert Price, Melba Moore, [or maybe not], Orchestra conducted by Charles H. Coleman [live New York 1978]