Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely
“Whether playing solo or with her band, [Toshi’s] fusion of styles and forms draws listeners in, embraces them and sets them off in a rapturous, hand-raising, foot-stomping delight.”
-RighteousBabe.com
About Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely Toshi Reagon is a versatile singer-songwriter-guitarist, drawing on the traditions of uniquely American music: rock, blues, R&B, country, folk, spirituals and funk. Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington DC, she comes from a musical—and political—family. Both her parents were civil rights activists in the 1960s, and founding members of The Freedom Singers, a folk group that toured the country to teach people about civil rights through song as part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Her mother, Bernice Johnson Reagon, is also a founder of the legendary a cappella group, Sweet Honey in the Rock. Toshi has been performing since she was 17 years old. Her career really launched when Lenny Kravitz chose her, straight out of college, to open for him on his first world tour. Some of Toshi’s proudest moments include playing for her godfather Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden, and performing with the Freedom Singers at the White House, in a tribute to the music of the civil rights movement. As a composer and producer, Toshi has created original scores for dance works, collaborated on two contemporary operas, served as producer on multiple albums, and has had her own work featured in films and TV soundtracks, including HBO and PBS programs. BIGLovely did its first performance as a band in 1996. Every member of this All-Star, New York based ensemble has their own band, or plays with many other artists in a range of styles. BIGLovely served as the house band—with Toshi as the music director—at the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017. Design for Sharing has been proud to share Toshi’s work with thousands of teens across Los Angeles who joined us for her spirited and engaging concerts in Royce Hall. This performance was recorded live in New York in Fall 2020, especially for UCLA Center for the Art of Performance. Watch it On Demand here! (You’ll need to subscribe for access—its quick and free!) This special program also features video appearances with commentary and reflection from Toshi’s creative community in Los Angeles as they think about what the year 2020 has meant for them, and where our nation stood before the November 2020 election. The full program is approximately 55 minutes and includes some brief adult language.
We recommend the following segments for youth audiences. Minutes 7:45-22:16 Toshi’s welcome; Down to the Water; Done Your Best; Looked in the Mirror Minutes 24:36-29:32 Freedom Minutes 50:00-55:00 There and Back Again
How to find the right clip using the time stamp: Mouse over the bottom of the video to bring up the slider bar and time indicator. Click to jump to the time you’re looking for, or click and drag to fast forward. The Sound of Protest: Music and Social Justice
For generations, and all around the world, music has made space for voices that otherwise might be silenced; voices that demand justice or celebrate the power and joy in a struggling community. Here in the United States, music played an important role in the fight for Civil Rights for all Americans. The Civil Rights Movement of 1960s was a mass protest movement against racial segregation and discrimination. Protesters, some in prison, some on long protest marches, sit-ins, or boycotts, sang what became known as Freedom Songs. Freedom songs were rooted in the culture and experience of black Americans. Spirituals, gospel, and folk music were the basis for many Freedom Songs. Religious themes of faith and hope, suffering and redemption figure prominently in the lyrics. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “[These songs] take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph. This is triumphant music.”
We may tend to think of protest songs as a relic of the 1960s, but music remains as important as ever to social justice and political protest movements. Huge stars like Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, and U2 have used their work, and their fame to bring attention to important issues over the years. Many Rap and Hip Hop artists have always spoken out against injustices like police brutality and mass incarceration. 2020 was a year of social upheaval, especially during the resurgence of Black Lives Matter protests. Artists across styles and genres expressed rage, resolve, mourning and solidarity in song.
"The main thing people talk about, when they talk about music and social movements is that music is kind of a resource for people in those movements," said Ron Eyerman, professor at Yale University and author of Music and Social Movements. “It's a way of creating and strengthening a sense of collective identity, a sense of we, 'We are in this together.'” Artists like Toshi Reagon use engaging, uplifting songs to share important stories and ideas, advocating for change.
“From where you are, from who you are in your everyday life, that’s where you make change. ...Whatever your gig is, make change through your strength.” -Toshi Reagon
Freedom Singers, including Toshi’s mother, Bernice Johnson Reagan, in 1963; The 2017 Women’s March in Washington, DC, where Toshi and BIGLovely performed. DIG DEEPER: Discussion Topics
• Toshi comes from a family where music was always important. Is music important in your family? Can you think of song, or kind of music that makes you feel connected to your family? • What songs or artists are important in your community? What songs or artists express things that are important to you? • Toshi has been described as celebrating everything “progressive and uplifting in American music”. Do you agree? Do you think her sound and style are uniquely American? Why? • Do you think music can be important when trying to share your views on political or social issues? Why? What can music do that speeches or articles cannot? • Which of Toshi’s songs spoke to you the most? What did it make you think about in your own life or experience? How did it make you feel? • How does music impact the way people think and act? How can music encourage people to participate in their community, their nation, and the world? • Many protest songs or social movement songs stay resonant because they ask important questions, or say important things. For example, legendary activist (and Toshi’s godfather!) Pete Seeger wrote the following lines for a song called Dear Mister President in 1942: This is the reason that I want to fight, Not 'cause everything's perfect, or everything's right. No, it's just the opposite: I'm fightin' because I want a better America, and better laws, And better homes, and jobs, and schools Does that still seem applicable? Are we still fighting for the same causes in 2021? • What social issues would you like to write a song about? What musical style would you choose to work with? LINKS, FURTHER READING, AND ACTIVITY
Learn more about Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely on Toshi’s website.
Check out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s collection on music, activism and fighting racism, It's Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope, & Empowerment.
Listen to this National Public Radio playlist of jazz and jazz/blues versions of some of the songs that sustained the civil-rights movement in the 1960s (and beyond).
Listen to this archived interview with Toshi’s mother, Berenice Johnson Reagon on the songs of the Freedom Singers and the Civil Rights Movement.
Check out this PBS History Detectives feature on American Music of the 20th Century.
Make your own artwork about what matters to you with this handprint poster project.