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History and Key Places

Key Places & Establishments (Continued)

Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra

The Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (originally called the Underground Musicians Association) was established in 1961 by pianist/composer Horace Tapscott with pianist Linda Hill and Trombonist Lester Robertson among others. A desire to encourage and celebrate African American artists and music in their community inspired the musicians to form the Arkestra.  They played at churches, big park events, or at lunchtime in schools around South Central Los Angeles and beyond.  During and after the uprising in Watts in 1965, the Arkestra played on the streets and in the backs of flatbed trucks amidst the debris of the rebellion.  They brought the music back to the community.  A quintet which represented the core of the Arkestra was finally recorded in 1969 on Bob Thiele’s Flying Dutchman record label resulting in the record, The Giant Has Awakened.

 

Bibliography

Aubry, Erin J.  “Words to Live By.” Los Angeles Times. 8 October 1995,  E1+.

Burk, Greg. “Horace Tapscott in the Heart of  It.”  LA Weekly  28 July 1989.

Daaood, Kamau. Leimert Park. CD-Rom. Mama Foundation, 1997.

Harris, Peter J. “Leimert Park Village.”  American Visions June/July 1992, 26+.

Holmes, Emory II. “So SoCal: All That Jazz,” Los Angeles Times Magazine. 1 September 1996, 10.

Mitchell, John L. “Rebirth of the Blues,”  Los Angeles Times 26 August 1997, B1+.

Ratliff, Ben. “Horace Tapscott Staring No in the Face.” CODA Magazine
(date unknown) pg 7+.

Robertson, Gil. “Inside Leimert Park.”  Black Enterprise June 1997, p336.

Sajbel, Maureen.  “The New Soul of L.A.” Travel & Leisure. October 1994, W12+.

Williams, Frank B. “The Poet of Leimert Park.” Los Angeles Times. 23 September 1997, B2+.

Woodard, Josef. “A Real Jazz Community.” Los Angeles Times. 4 September 1994, Calendar: 8+.

Celebrities. “Marla Gibbs Buys Theater For L.A. Program.” Jet . 21 May 1990, 61.

Celebrities. “Marla Gibbs Loses Her Los Angeles Theater.” Jet . 8 September 1997, 64.

“Crenshaw Boulevard: The Forgotten Spine.” With Celeste Holm.  The United States of Los Angeles. KCRW, Santa Monica. 27 November 1997.

The World Stage Summer Jazz Institute. Flyer, June 6, 1997.

 

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