Nancy Dupree - Ghetto Reality [CD] USA import

Folkways Records

Nancy Dupree - Ghetto Reality [CD]

Artist: Nancy Dupree

Title: Ghetto Reality

Condition: New

Format: COMPACT DISCS

Release Date: 2012

Label: Folkways Records

UPC: 093070752023

Genre: African, Spoken

Album Tracks

1. What Do I Have?
2. James Brown
3. Bag Snatchin'
4. Docta King
5. Virgin Mary
6. I Want
7. Frankenstein
8. Cold
9. Jingle Bells
10. Call Baby Jesus

Nancy Dupree initially found her elementary school music students in Rochester, NY resistant to participation in class. Once she dropped the standard literature (which asked "Mr. Bear" to "come and play") and began composing music that bore relevancy to contemporary society and to their very tuned-in and grownup interests, she found they immediately took to performing. Her songs addressed, for example, the contributions icons James Brown and Jelly Roll Morton (aka "Docta King") made to society, the intangible assets each child naturally possessed ("What do I have? Guts... heart... and soul") and fighting for civil rights ("I want my freedom; I want it now"). Not only did singing about meaningful issues in real musical styles reveal the immense talents the students had, but it gave all a critical lesson in empowerment.