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LISTEN: Hugh Masekela Has The Mountain Stage Song Of The Week
Hugh Masekela performs on Mountain Stage during the Sterwheeler Regatta in 1989.Hugh Masekela/Mountain Stage Archives
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“Around the world it’s just a simple song.” – Mountain Stage theme, composed by Larry Groce.
This week’s broadcast brings you music from all corners of the globe with a Mountain Stage special called “Around the World It’s Just a Simple Song.”
Our Song of the Weekis by Hugh Masekela, the South African trumpeter and activist who performed the popular anti-apartheid song “Bring Him Back Home” (referring to Nelson Mandela) twice on Mountain Stage. First in 1989, and again in 1994.
This version is from the latter appearance recorded in Charleston, West Virginia, two days before Nelson Mandela was inaugurated president of his home country. Emotions ran high that night. Masekela lived in exile from 1960 – 1990, returning only after Mandela was released from 27 years in prison. Hugh left West Virginia the next morning, bound for Pretoria, to be present for Mandela’s inauguration. Hugh Masekela died in 2018.
This special episode also features international renowned performers such as June Tabor, Angelique Kidjo, Miho Hatori, Beausoleil, Ali Farka Touré, Zakir Hussain, and many others.
Listen this week for an encore broadcast of Mountain Stage featuring Larkin Poe, Victoria Canal, Raye Zaragoza, Ron Pope, and Christian Lopez. This episode was recorded with our host Kathy Mattea on the campus of West Virginia University, thanks to our friends at WVU College of Creative Arts and Media.
Our Song of the Week comes from the legendary jazz fusion band, best known for their 70s era records with the great pianist Herbie Hancock, The Headhunters. “Watermelon Man” was written by Hancock and was first released in 1962. On this live recording, you’ll hear Michael Clark on drums, William Summer on Vocals and Percussion, Donald Harrison on Saxophone, Shea Pierre on Piano, and Chris Severin on bass.
Our Mountain Stage Song of the Week is "All Aboard," by The Del McCoury Band. This classic train song was originally written by Eugene Patrick Ellsworth, Charles Edward Stefl, and Bradley Ross Rodgers, and has become one of Del McCoury's most popular tracks.