thisisthestoryteller's Podcast

Final episode in the popular Storyteller series made for radio on the foundation builders of Black music.

In this episode,the  Storyteller, Dr Glen Yearwood, curates the contribution of Gospel to the family of Black music. The oldest African oral tradition of call and return, from 'negro' spirituals to catching the spirit in the house with Aretha Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, Louis Armstrong and many more including the unheralded contribution  of composer Thomas Andrew Dorsey (1899 -1993) who penned some of the gospel greats including Take My Hand,Precious Lord.

Storyteller the host and producer of the popular radio series reaches for his "comfort blanket" and that is Jamaican reggae music . In this episode, storyteller selects the music of reggae apostle Bob Marley to curate 65 years of Jamaican music and its perennial capacity to punch above-its-weight on the influence on the world cultures'.

Storyteller takes the listener on a sixty minute train journey alighting at the following: Reggae for the soul: What is a reggae dancehall standard and how do we feel it? What is Reggae in love? What is a (reggae) foundation "chune": What is the debt owed to studio one, label, founder, and producer, "Coxsone" Dodd? Plus the 1975 live version of No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley and the Wailers convinced Chris Blackwell to license the band to Universal records and put on tour: how powerful was that London performance ? If Love your reggae you will enjoy the house of Reggae by the Storyteller

Storyteller the host and producer of the popular radio series defines "soul" music as any type of music that evokes a stirring of your spirits and emotional sensibilities. To this point, Storyteller divides his music for the soul into the following categories: poetry of love: poetry of Introspective: poetry of happiness and light . Storyteller curates the music and innerstanding of some of the greats including, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Nancy Wilson, Millie Jackson, Minnie Ripperton, Marlena Shaw and a rare iconic track from William DeVaughn, whilst celebrating Marvin Gaye's 1971 What's Going On album as the ultimate example of the "poetries of introspection " which provided a musical narrative for the 1960's US civil rights protest, Vietnam war and racial poverty of Black Americans in the inner-cities, the consummate soundtrack for that moment.

Episode 11 of the popular series made for radio on the builders and influencers on Black Music in the twentieth century.

In todays episode, Storyteller makes the case why Curtis Mayfield (1942- 1999) singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and "soul brother number one" should have a seat at the Last Supper of the 12 Apostles of Black Music.

Episode 6 of the popular series made for radio on the builders and influencers on Black Music in the twentieth century.

In todays episode, Storyteller makes the case why Tabu Ley Rochereau (1940-2013) singer, band leader, arranger, record producer and co-founder of Congolese Rhumba should have a seat at the Last Supper of the 12 Apostles of Black Music.

Storyteller turns the spotlight on the man from the Congo who took the artform of Rhumba from the Belgium Congo of the late 50's to an independent Democratic Republic of Congo (1960) where a renaissance of all things African was a necessary part of the 'expression' of independence: at the heart of this was Congolese music and folklore which formed the basis of Rhumba, expressed with different accents by Africans in Brazil, Caribbean and Latin America. Rochereau's triumph was to build the music in Congo and spread to the rest of the world by touring and recording with a legion of leading musicians, namely in Europe.

Storytellers palpable love for Congo Rhumba is contagious and the listener is drawn into both the education and Rochereau music.

The series; 12 Apostles of Black Music originally broadcasted on Australian outback radio in 2018 and has since become syndicated nationally and a popular on-demand and podcast to a worldwide audience. The original series developed by Dr Glen Yearwood, who is the storyteller.

The series; 12 Apostles of Black Music originally broadcasted on Australian outback radio in 2018 and has since become syndicated nationally and a popular on-demand and podcast to a worldwide audience. The original series developed by Dr Glen Yearwood, who is the storyteller.

Episode 3 of the popular made for radio Storyteller series on Black Music builders and influencers of twentieth century. In this episode, host and presenter, Storyteller, curates the career and contribution to the family of Black Music (Funk) of James Brown (1933-2006). The undisputed King of Funk evolved the sound of Gospel, Do Wop, Soul and delivered Funk to the world over a twenty year period. The storyteller asks a few questions: how influential on the sound of James Brown were the supporting roles of his musical directors: Piwi Ellis, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker and what is the soul of James Brown? Will the real James Brown please stand up?

A must listen for lovers of musical genre of Funk and folklore on iconic

Episode 8 of the popular Storyteller series on the influencers and builders of Black Music in the twentieth century. In this episode, the Storyteller, Dr Glen Yearwood, turns his gaze on Burning Spear( born 1945), whom he describes as the "consummate storyteller". Burning Spear for over forty years, told the story of Rastafari and the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Burning Spear (Winston Rodney) started his recording career in 1969 with producer Coxsone Dodd at Studio One label in Kingston , Jamaica, his seminal album Marcus Garvey in 1975 launched him as an international star and" messenger" for Pan-Africanism: his concerts across Europe and North America were sold-out affairs and his precise interpretation of the reggae artform of roots focussed on heavier African drum and bass with lyrics that were the prophecy of the liberation of Black peoples' through the salvation of the Rastafarian religion: Jah, Rastafari

pisode 9 of the popular Storyteller series on the influencers and builders of Black Music in the twentieth century.

In this episode the Storyteller, Dr Glen Yearwood, turns his gaze on Barry White ( 1944 - 2003), whom he describes White's production and orchestral arrangement as a "...thing of beauty". White's relative short period of recording activity 1973 to early '80's travelled from the artform of Funk to Disco, Storyteller focuses on White's iconic debut album of 1973: Got So Much To Give in which for an investment of $35,000 he delivered the world a music brand where Funk met a 30 piece orchestra complete with Steinway piano and White's baritone voice. Storyteller invites the soul of Barry White to a chair at the Last Supper of the 12 Apostles of Black Music. A must for lovers of Black American music complete with a narrative and deep explanation on the "why" and the "how".

The "12 Apostles of Black Music" series ran as a weekly show on Australian outback community radio in 2019 and now one of the most popular on-demand shows and podcast series hosted and produced by Dr Glen Yearwood.

Episode eight in the popular Storyteller series made for radio on the foundation builders of Black music.

In this episode, Storyteller, Dr Glen Yearwood, curates the contribution of Blues, Country and soul legend Ray Charles Robinson (1930 - 2004).

Storyteller illuminates stories and folklore behind the legend Ray Charles who straddled between blues, country and pop music during his thirty year recording career.