November 2001 Queer Music Heritage

November 2001

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"Caravan Tonight"

Steven Grossman was the first openly gay artist signed to a major label, Mercury, which released his LP "Caravan Tonight" in 1974. He died of AIDS in 1991

Playlist:     (airdate: Nov 26, 2001)
Steven Grossman - out (1974)
   First gay artist signed to a major label
Special Feature Interview: Blackberri
   He was a pioneer of male gay-oriented music
Blackberri - i miss you (1981)
Buena Vista - he's okay (1978)
Blackberri -when will the ignorance end (1979)
Blackberri - it's okay (1981)
Blackberri - please help me to forget (1981)
Blackberri - beautiful black man
   (1989, from "Looking for Langston")
Mark Weigle & Blackberri - no more nights alone    (1998, a duet from Mark's CD "The Truth Is")
Interview with Sonia, of Disappear Fear:
Mark Weigle & Sonia-other houses
   (2000, a duet from Mark's CD "All That Matters")
Sonia - fallin' / me, too (2001, from "Sonia--Live at the Down Home")

Steven Grossman

Above, ad from After Dark Magazine from 1974 for Steven's album and, left, rare photo from The Advocate, April 1974

Blackberri's LP: "Blackberri & Friends; Finally"

Walls to Roses

Above, two of Blackberri's songs were included on the "Walls To Roses" album (1979), a landmark various artists release, in that the artists consisted of a mix of gay and straight men supporting the struggle against sexism

Right, Blackberri's music was used in the 1989 movie "Looking For Langston," about the Harlem Renaissance poet, Langston Hughes. He was also featured in the movie "Tongues Untied," in 1991. Below, Langston Hughes.

Langston Hughes

Blackberri, circa 1979

"Looking For Langston"

"Tongues Untied"

Langston Hughes

Click Here to read a historic article on Blackberri, from The Advocate

Blackberri

Buena Vista's 45 "He's Okay" and "Hot Magazine," from 1978

Buena Vista was a popular San Francisco group, that sung Blackberri's song in the 1978 movie "Word Is Out" and released the song as a 45rpm. Below is a publicity photo or them, in the round. You can read an article about them on this month's script page.

Artist Links:
Mark Weigle
Sonia

Mark Weigle "The Truth Is" "All That Matters"

Late Addition (added 3/04):

In 1974 a short-lived magazine called "Dilettante" published a short photo essay by John Cox. I'm delighted that it included a rare photo of Steven Grossman.

mag cover Steven Grossman

read more about the magazine at http://models.badpuppy.com/archive/manage/studios/

and visit my new Steven Grossman Tribute Page