Last Sunday, Ahmir Thompson — better known as Questlove — won the Oscar for Best Documentary for his debut film, Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). The film is also nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Music Film, and we'll find out this weekend if Summer of Soul will receive that award as well.  

Summer of Soul explores a major event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. In the summer of 1969 — the same summer as Woodstock — the Harlem Cultural Festival took place in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) in New York. Footage of the event was forgotten in a basement until Questlove and the rest of the team behind Summer of Soul were able to collect and restore it. Summer of Soul brings back to light not only a major cultural event and a public gathering celebrating Black life, but it also resurrects stunning concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and many other legendary artists.

So let's celebrate Summer of Soul together. Have you seen it? What was your favorite moment? Let's discuss and enjoy music from Summer of Soul for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

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Songs played:
The Operation Breadbasket Orchestra and Choir - Precious Lord, Take My Hand feat. Mavis Staples and Mahalia Jackson
Sly & the Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song
David Ruffin - My Girl
Nina Simone - Backlash Blues
The 5th Dimension - Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In