School Day Live presents STRING STORIES The Roots and Fruits of the Blues Tuesday, April 24, 2018 11:30 a.m. Grades 3 - 12 As part of our ongoing commitment to providing world class entertainment and education through the arts, the Apollo Theater Education Program is pleased to present String Stories: The Roots and Fruits of the Blues, as part of our 2017/18 School Day Live series. From spirituals to work songs, the Delta Blues, Piedmont Blues, Kansas City and Chicago Blues, String Stories follows the history of the Blues and introduces students to some of the great women who helped create this American art form. The performance traces the Blues from the West African griot tradition, to the African American acapella spiritual tradition, to work songs, highlighting along the way how stringed instruments like the guitar and banjo accompanied the Blues and evolved with the music. String Stories features an orchestra comprised of world renown vocalists and instrumentalists: Jackie Coleman - Bass Tamar - Kali Brown - Vocals Queen Esther - Vocals Karyn Smith - Guitar Jackie Venson - Guitar LaFrae Sci - Drums The String Stories orchestra was organized by musical director LaFrae Sci specifically for this Apollo School Day Live performance. Sci, a drummer and composer believes music can heal the world and is trying to do her part one day at a time. In addition to being a founding teaching member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls and a faculty member of the Middle School Jazz Academy at Jazz at Lincoln Center, LaFrae has toured, recorded and worked with a myriad of Jazz, Blues, Pop, Rock, world music and Hip-hop artists. LaFrae also serves as a Jazz/cultural Ambassador for the U.S. Dept. of State through the Rhythm Road American Music Abroad program. The attached Apollo Theater Study for String Stories provides essential information on the music and artists that will be presented during the performance. The Study Guide can be used as both a pre- and/or post-performance tool. It includes links to videos of music styles and performers featured in the show. APOLLO THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAM |253 WEST 125TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10027|(212)531-5320 |APOLLOTHEATER.ORG We do not often hear about the women who were the musical style setters and, in some cases, were responsible for many of the musical genres we have become accustomed to listening to today. String Stories highlights some of these women and pays tribute to their contributions: Elizabeth Cotten Etta Baker Memphis Minnie Odetta Sister Rosetta Tharpe A Tumblr with more information about these women and others, entitled The Blueswomen can be found here. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. The music and the message of String Stories will provide numerous moments for singing, clapping, and cheering that magical vehicle that gave voice to the voiceless, traveled the country, and then took on the world: The Blues. We look forward to seeing you at the world famous Apollo on April 24th. Enjoy the show! Shirley C. Taylor Director of Education Apollo Theater APOLLO THEATER EDUCATION PROGRAM |253 WEST 125TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10027|(212)531-5320 |APOLLOTHEATER.ORG .