This week, some of the stories on our show inspired college student art — including a vivid image of a bear smashing a clarinet. Also, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens. And, COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. One author says, these folks are anything but passive.
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 premiere 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 performers such as June Tabor, Angelique Kidjo, Miho Hatori, Beausoleil, Ali Farka Touré, Zakir Hussain, and many others.
On this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage, you’ll hear live performances by Al Stewart, Livingston Taylor, Sweet Honey In The Rock, The Nighthawks, and Cristina Vane with host Kathy Mattea. We recorded episode 1,054 on the campus of George Mason University at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, VA.
Our Song of the Week comes from the charming, topical folk singer-songwriter, Loudon Wainwright III, who has made over 17 appearances on Mountain Stage across every decade that the show has existed since 1983. His performance of “Middle of the Night” is our Song of the Week.
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.