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(Columbia Records)
Martin Luther King, Jr., was born Michael King, Jr., on January 15, 1929. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
When Joan Baez reflected on her life in the documentary, How Sweet The Sound, she marveled at the events of her own life. Among the most moving was the mutual admiration between Ms. Baez and Dr. King. Baez was present at various political protests and other events alongside King .
The most iconic event was "The March On Washington For Jobs and Freedom," on August 28, 1963. This political rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., featured Dr. King giving his historic "I Have A Dream" speech.
"When The Ship Comes In," Bob Dylan with Joan Baez
Bob Dylan sang at the "March On Washington" rally . He performed "When The Ship Comes In" with Joan Baez (above), and a solo version of "Only A Pawn In Their Game" (below). He also participated in a version of "Keep Your Eyes On The Prize" with Baez and Len Chandler. Other reports have listed Dylan performing "Blowin' In The Wind" and/or " With God On Our Side."
Both confirmed original Dylan songs were unreleased at the time. They appeared the following January on the album, The Times They Are A-Changin'.
In 1963, WGBH 89.7 broadcast the entire event as part of the National Educational Radio Network, the precursor to NPR.
Bob Dylan also performed at a tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center Opera House; in Washington, D.C., on 20 January 1986 .The performance was broadcast later the same day on NBC-TV. Dylan played guitar and sang on the following songs:
1. The Bells Of Freedom - Dylan with Stevie Wonder (shared vocal), not broadcast.
2. I Shall Be Released - Dylan with Stevie Wonder's band, Wonderlove, and (possibly) the Queens of Rhythm.
3. Blowin' In The Wind - Dylan with Wonder and Peter, Paul & Mary.
4. Happy Birthday - featuring Stevie Wonder, with Dylan and a cast of dozens.
While performing "Blowin' in The Wind," Dylan kept with the script, except for changing a lyric to "turn his back." For "I Shall Be Released," Dylan completely rewrote the song :
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Comments
"Bells of Freedom" -- presumably we're speaking of "Chimes of Freedom" -- would love to hear Bob & Stevie sing it together
No, "Bells of Freedom" is apparently correct. It is listed as written by Stevie Wonder.
I don't know, though. I am sceptical. I can find no evidence of a Stevie Wonder song called 'Bells of Freedom', apart from the listing in Olof. If it were a song written especially for the occasion, it seems unlikely that Dylan would be duetting on it.
Could this therefore be 'Chimes' after all?
Bob started performing 'Chimes' for the first time (unless this is it) since the sixties later in the year with the Grateful Dead, and then the following year with Roger McGuinn.
I am now informed that 'Bells for [sic] Freedom' is an unreleased Stevie Wonder song that can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvwhQR5rW4k
Bob sang the "hammer for justice" verse.
Very interesting article.
Bob Dylan always seems to be at the center of history!
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