thisisthestoryteller's Podcast

Final episode in the popular Storyteller series made for radio on the foundation builders of Black music. In this episode,the  Storyteller, Dr Glen Yearwood, curates the contribution of Gospel to the family of Black music. The oldest African oral tradition of call and return, from 'negro' spirituals to catching the spirit in the house with Aretha Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, Louis Armstrong and many more including the unheralded contribution  of composer Thomas Andrew Dorsey (1899 -1993) who penned some of the gospel greats including Take My Hand,Precious Lord. This is a must listen to for both lovers of Gospel and beginners who require historical context and Storyteller's narration and insight's.

Storyteller the host and producer of the popular radio series reaches for his "comfort blanket" and that is Jamaican reggae music . In this episode, storyteller selects the music of reggae apostle Bob Marley to curate 65 years of Jamaican music and  its perennial capacity to punch above-its-weight on the  influence on the world. Storyteller takes the listener on a sixty minute train journey alighting at the following: Reggae for the soul: What is a Reggae dancehall standard and how do we feel it? What is Reggae in love? What is a (reggae) foundation "chune": What is the debt owed to studio one, label, founder, and producer, "Coxsone" Dodd? Plus the 1975 live version of No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley and the Wailers convinced Chris Blackwell  to license the band to Universal records and put on tour: How powerful was  that London performance ? If you Love your reggae you will enjoy the house of Reggae by the Storyteller. Artwork usage with the kind permission of Don Grant www.dongrantwallart.co.uk

Storyteller the host and producer of the popular radio series defines "soul" music as any type of music that evokes a stirring of your spirits and emotional sensibilities. To this point, Storyteller divides his music for the soul  into the following categories: poetry of love: poetry of Introspective: poetry of happiness and light . Storyteller curates the music and innerstanding of some of the greats including, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Nancy Wilson, Millie Jackson, Minnie Ripperton, Marlena Shaw and a rare iconic track from William DeVaughn, whilst celebrating Marvin Gaye's 1971 What's Going On  album as the ultimate example of the "poetries of introspection " which provided a musical narrative for the 1960's US civil rights protest, Vietnam war and racial poverty of Black Americans in the inner-cities, the consummate soundtrack for that moment. Artwork usage with the kind permission of Don Grant www.dongrantwallart.co.uk

Episode 11 of the popular series made for radio on the builders and influencers on Black Music in the twentieth century. In todays episode, Storyteller makes the case why Curtis Mayfield (1942- 1999) singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and  "soul brother number one" should have a seat at the Last Supper of the 12 Apostles of Black Music.  Storyteller turns the spotlight on Mayfield, a Chicago native, who Storyteller describes  life as "before and after Curtis" to articulate his deep feelings that  came alive after listening to  Mayfield's song, We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue from 1970 album titled:Curtis.  Many years later Storyteller met Mayfield at the famed Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London and shared a coffee with his hero and both talked "some stuff". This episode is a labour of Love and a warm place so no surprise then Curtis Mayfield is summoned by the Storyteller to take a chair at the Last Supper of the 12 Apostles of Black Music as the eleventh apostle The series; 12 Apostles of Black Music originally broadcasted on Australian outback radio in 2018 and has since become syndicated nationally and a popular on-demand and podcast to a worldwide audience. The original series developed by Dr Glen Yearwood, who is the storyteller.

Episode 6 of the popular series made for radio on the builders and influencers on Black Music in the twentieth century. In todays episode, Storyteller makes the case why Tabu Ley Rochereau (1940-2013) singer, band leader, arranger, record producer and co-founder of Congolese Rhumba should have a seat at the Last Supper of the 12 Apostles of Black Music.  Storyteller turns the spotlight on the man from the Congo who took the artform  of Rhumba  from the  Belgium Congo of the late 50's to an independent Democratic Republic of Congo (1960) where a renaissance of all things African was a necessary  part of the 'expression' of independence, at the heart of this expression was Congolese music and folklore which formed the basis of Rhumba which was expressed with different accents by Africans in Brazil, Caribbean and Latin America. Rochereau's triumph was to build the music in Congo and spread to the rest of the world by touring and recording with a legion of leading musicians, namely in Europe. Storytellers palpable love for Congo Rhumba is contagious and the listener is drawn into both the education and Rochereau and his music. The series; 12 Apostles of Black Music originally broadcasted on Australian outback radio in 2018 and has since become syndicated nationally and a popular on-demand and podcast to a worldwide audience. The original series developed by Dr Glen Yearwood, who is the storyteller.