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Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson on how sifting through 40 hours of archival footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival — where legends like Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder performed in the same summer as Woodstock — led to his debut documentary, ‘"Summer of Soul.” Plus, how the parallel protests of 2020 and 1969, as well as a focus on Black joy, helped to shape the film, and why he still considers "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon his creative epicenter.

The Envelope · Alex Higgens, Mike Heflin, Asal Ehsanipour, Mark Olsen, Heba Elorbany

February 8, 202227m 32sExplicit

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Show Notes

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson on how sifting through 40 hours of archival footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival — where legends like Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder performed in the same summer as Woodstock — led to his debut documentary, ‘"Summer of Soul.” Plus, how the parallel protests of 2020 and 1969, as well as a focus on Black joy, helped to shape the film, and why he still considers "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon his creative epicenter.

 

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com

 

Topics

nina simonegeorge floydstevie wondersummer of soulwoodstockmusic festivalharlem cultural festivalmusicahmir thompsonblack woodstockdocumentarythe rootsharlem1969questlove