The Narrative of Nat Love

Ok Friends I apologize for not blogging more but I have been very busy working on a website I am trying to put together that well focus on social issues. Anyway part of what I have been busy working on is a audio black history website , it is my goal to make black history available to the world to download on thier computers or Ipods to listen while going about thier daily routine. Once we have gotten establish I will look for volunteers and a board of advisers to decide the ultimate vision and objective of this website. Just Copy and Paste following link http://www.markbey.com/natlove.mp3 into your browser and enjoy one of the black history Narratives now bieng prepared for the audio history site/blog.This is the first chapter of the Autobiography of Nat love AKA Deadwood Dick. Mr. Love amongst other things was a real life cowboy African American stye. Please listen to it and let me know what you think.

To listen just copy and paste links below into browser

Chapter 1 Nat Love: http://www.markbey.com/natlove.mp3

Chapter 2 Nat Love: http://www.markbey.com/nat2.mp3

The Diary of William P Woodlin (A black civil war soldier)

I am a history buff, one of my favorite subjects is military history(especially african american military history). I have been searchin the net for histories, accounts, biographies, autobiographies and diaries of African Americans in the 1800s. I came accross the diary of William P. Woodlin of the 8 USCT Colored troops. The diary is recorded during 1862 and 1863. I have recorded and uploaded it to the internet I do hope you enjoy. Copy and Paste the links below to listen to the Diary of William P Woodlin

part 1 www.markbey.com/woodln1.mp3

part 2 www.markbey.com/woodlin2.mp3

part 3 www.markbey.com/woodlin3.mp3

part 4 www.markbey.com/woodlin4.mp3

Florence Mills

Hello Folks one of the things I love doing is reading over the internet specifically following links from page to page. Anyway I came across a wonderful link for a black entertainer named florence mills http://www.florencemills.com/.

 I have been very curious about this very talented and beautiful black entertainer from back in the day. Florence Mills was born in Washington DC in a section called goat alley which actually is about a 15 minute bike ride from this spot where I sit blogging at this moment.   I believe her signature song was Bye Bye Black Bird, unfortuanately she died very young and didnt get the chance to imprint her essence on the entertaimement and black history scene long enough to be a household name amongst black people , although she should be. I will be recording essays from websites blogs and articles to bring this black american all star to life. I will also be adding my own commentary about times, events and places named on this page. I hope you enjoy. Just copy and past the folling links into a browser.  Until then enjoy this reading from the above website.

Florence Mp3 Pt1  http://www.markbey.com/mills1%2001.mp3

Florence Mp3 Pt2  http://www.markbey.com/mills22%2001.mp3 

 Florence Mp3 Pt 3     www.markbey.com/mills3.mp3 

Here is an  audio interview with Florences Husband Ulyses “Slow Kid” Thompson  http://www.florencemills.com/us_thompson_on%20_florence_mills_early_career.mp3 

This is a recording  called “Anything Just happens to me”  by her sister Olivia Mills Wiltshire http://www.florencemills.com/anything_that_happens_just_pleases_me.mp3 

This here is an interview by Eubie Blake who live to the ripe old age of over 100.  Eubie Blake remembered her into old age. http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/magic/saloon/blake.html\

Here  is an interview with Hyacinth Curtis who knew her and saw her perform in England http://www.florencemills.com/hyacinth_curtis_on_florence_mills.mp3

 Maude Rusell  (The Slim Princess)Maude Russell (The Slim Princess)

Although thier are no actual recordings of Florence Mills this is a recording of a song she made famous on the stage sung by Eva Taylor http://www.redhotjazz.com/songs/williams/imalittle.ram

Songs written and recorded in tribute to Florence Mills

http://www.florencemills.com/elegiac_blues_solo.ra

http://www.florencemills.com/may_we_meet_again_florence_mills.ra ( Recorded by Eva Taylor and Clarence Williams) http://www.florencemills.com/all_the_world_is_lonely.ra (Andy Razaf, lyricist for “Ain’t Misbehavin”, “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Black and Blue” )

http://www.florencemills.com/bye_%20bye_florence_mills.ra (Bert Howell vocal, with organ accompaniment by Fats Waller, the nearest thing we have to Fats’ lost personal tribute - he gets joint composer credits on this one)

http://www.florencemills.com/she’s_gone_to_join_the_songbirds_in_heaven.ra (Eva Taylor again, one of Florence’s staunchest friends and admirers, composed by Porter Grainger who wrote “Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do”)

Her is a song Duke Ellington wrote in her memory called Black Beauty http://redhotjazz.com/songs/ellington/blackbeauty.ram

Black Political History

This is a video cast from a black history and political sight called Black American Journal. Copy and paste link to view podcast http://dlv1.matrix.msu.edu:8080/ramgen/dptv/coleman_young.rm.  This is a Podcast about the lengendary black mayor of detriot coleman young.

“Lil”HardinArmstrongremembersLouis Armstrong

Lil Hardin was born in Memphis, Tenesse in 1903. She was born into at a time and place of great contradictions although Memphis had be and would later be the seen of many justices and outrages against  its black community She grew up learning how to play music on an organ that the family owned as well as playing in the church. Eventually she made her way to Chicago were she eventually performed with and then married Louis Armstrong.You can check out her some of her music at .  Also check out an interview of  “Lil Harden Armstrong ( copy and paste link into browser http://redhotjazz.com/Songs/Lil/SatchmoandMe.ram)  about her ex-husband Louis Armstrong. 

 Check out this interview by Louis Armstrongs second wife  http://redhotjazz.com/Songs/Lil/SatchmoandMe.ram