Chicago and New York: two cities, same era, 1910-1930.
Thomas Sideris prepared 2 two-hour radio documentaries on the recordings made just before and during the interwar period in the United States by economic immigrants, focusing on two cities, New York and Chicago.
Under the pressure of racism and racial discrimination, blacks living in the deep American South would move to Chicago to work as economic immigrants as early as the late 19th and early last century. During the interwar years, the African-American community would create a great blues-based music scene in Chicago.
At the very same time, Greek immigrants, through many trials and wanderings, will create their own social and economic networks. The recordings of Greek musicians and singers focus on the musical roads of the East and on folk singing.
In the first part of the radio documentary, Marika Papagika “talks” with King Oliver and other Chicago bluesmen.
In the second part, the recordings of Mrs. Koula, Giorgos Katsaros and others are added, while we listen to songs of the black workers of Chicago.
The concept for this two-part radio documentary was greatly assisted by Radio Panik producer Jonathan Parker from Brussels and award-winning African-American journalist Joyce Davis from the USA.
Texts/research/presentation: Thomas Sideris
Sound recording: Kostas Kyriakakis
The two-part radio documentary will be broadcast on the Voice of Greece on January, Saturday 20th and Saturday 27th, 2024.
