Didn't We Ramble On

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A documentary film with the title Didn't We Ramble On. Directed by Billy Jackson, the documentary explores the tradition of marching bands in African American culture. It focuses particularly on the historical roots of marching bands in West African culture and features narration by Dizzy Gillespie. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm acetate film with optical sound. The film begins with shots of a marching band at a stadium intercut with shots of various forms of unidentified West African musical and dance traditions. Narration by Dizzy Gillespie begins near the end of the intercut shots. He describes the passing down of memory and tradition through music and dance. As he describes how this "spirit" survives, shots of a New Orleans second line parade are shown. Next, the title cards appear. Gillespie then appears in a head and shoulders shot speaking directly to the camera.

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