美国名人音乐家威利斯·康诺夫.docx

美国名人音乐家威利斯康诺夫WillisConover,1920-1996:HeBroughtJazz,“TheMusicofFreedom/*totheWorldplaystopmutemaxvolume00:00-15:39repeatByDanaDemange2009-1-31VOICEONE:mBobDoughty.VOICETWO:AndmBarbaraKleinwithPeopleinAmericainVOASpecialEnglish.Today,wetellaboutWillisConover.Hisvoiceisoneofthemostfamousintheworld.Conover'sVoiceofAmericaradioprogramonjazzwasoneofthemostpopularandinfluentialshowsinbroadcastinghistory.(MUSIC)VOICEONE:WillisConoverWillisConoverwasnotajazzmusician.However,manypeoplebelievethathedidmoretospreadthesoundofjazzthananypersoninmusichistory.FormorethanfortyyearsConoverbroughtjazztopeoplearoundtheworldonhisVOAmusicprograms.Anestimatedonehundredmillionpeopleheardhisprograms.Hehelpedmakejazzmusicaninternationallanguage.VOICETWO:WillisConoverwasborninBuffalo,NewYorkzinnineteentwenty.Becausehisfatherwasinthemilitary,hisfamilymovedaroundagreatdeal.WhenWilliswasinhighschool,heplayedthepartofaradioannouncerinaschoolplay.Peopletoldhimthathesoundedlikearealradioannouncer.Latehecompetedinaspellingcompetitionthatwasbroadcastonradio.TheradioannouncertoldWillisthatheshouldworkinradio.Willishadadeepandrichvoicethatwasperfectforbroadcasting.VOICEONE:Atfirst,ConoverworkedforsmallradiostationsinthestateofMaryland.HeservedinthemilitaryduringWorldWarTwo.Becauseofhisexperiencetalkingtopeopleonradio,Conoverwasnotsentawaytofight.HewasneededtointerviewnewsoldiersatFortMeade,Maryland.Afterthewar,hecontinuedtoworkforcommercialradiostations.WillisConoverheardalotofjazzmusicduringthenineteenfortiesinWashington,D.C.Thiscitywasthecenterofaveryimportantjazzmovement.WillisConoverknewmanyofthejazzmusiciansinbothWashingtonandNewYorkCity.Hehelpedorganizemanyconcerts.Healsohelpedstopracialseparationintheplaceswheremusicwasplayedatnight.Atthistime,mainlywhitepeoplewenttomusicclubseventhoughmanyofthemusicianswereblack.Conovercreatedmusicaleventswherepeopleofallraceswerewelcome.VOICETWO:WillisConoverwantedtobeabletoplaymoreofthejazzmusicthathelovedonhisradioshow.Hedidnotliketherestrictionsofcommercialradio.WhenheheardthattheVoiceofAmericawantedtostartajazzmusicprogram,Conoverknewthathehadfoundaperfectjob.Hehadfullfreedomtoplayallkindsofjazzmusiconhisshowwhichbeganinnineteenfifty-five.(MUSIC)VOICEONE:WillisConoveroncesaidthatjazzisthemusicoffreedom.Hesaidthatwithjazzpeoplecanexpresstheirlivesthroughmusic.Andthatthemusichelpspeopletostandupalittlestraighter.ManypeoplethinkthatWillisConoverhadgreatpoliticalinfluenceduringtheperiodafterWorldWarTwoknownastheColdWar.ThiswasatimeofincreasedtensionsbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnion.Duringthenineteensixtiesandseventies,listeningtotheVOAwasnotallowedinmanyEasternEuropeancountries.Also,thegovernmentsofthesecountriesthoughtjazzwasdangerousandsubversive.Butthepeopleinthesecountrieslovedjazz.Manypeoplebecamejazzmusiciansthemselves.TheyfirstlearnedhowtoplaythismusicbylisteningtoWillisConover's"MusicUSA"program.VOICETWO:ConoverwithLouisArmstrongDuringthemanyyearshisprogramwasbroadcast,Conoverpresentedhisexpertknowledgeaboutjazz.HeinterviewedgreatjazzmusicianssuchasBillieHolliday,DukeEllingtonandLouisArmstrong.Heplayedthebestmusicfromthemostcurrentmusicians.HereisarecordingofConovertalkingaboutthewayjazzmusicchangesovertime.CONOVER:"Jazzisalivingmusicandanythingthatisalivegrowsandchanges,justaswegrowandchange.Soitchangesallthetime.Butit'sbasedonourmemoriesandourculturalheritageandhowwefeelaboutit.Andthatchanges.Soithasitsrootsinthemusicofahalf-centuryagoandmusicthatcamealongsincethen.Itdependsonwhatthemusicianhasheardandwhatthemusicianwantstodowithitonceheorshehasheardit.Itchangesbecauseit'slivingmusic."VOICEONE:WillisConovernotonlytalkedaboutjazzmusiconhisprogram.Hesometimeswrotethemusicandthewordstojazzsongs.Heusuallywrotesadlovesongs.Hismanymusicianfriendsputthewordstomusic.Hereheisvoicingthewordstoasonghewroteinthenineteensixties.ThemusiciswrittenandplayedbythegreatjazzguitaristCharlieByrd.(MUSIC)VOICETWO:VeryfewAmericansknewaboutWillisConover'sprogram.VoiceofAmericaprogramsarenotpermittedtobebroadcastintheUnitedStates.Buthewasveryfamousintherestoftheworld.Audienceslovedhisprogram.WhenhetraveledtoPolandinnineteenfifty-nine,hesawhundredsofpeoplegatherednearhisplane.Peopleheldcamerasandflowers.Theywerecheeringandsmiling.Conoverthoughtthattheywerewaitingforafamouspersontoarrive.Thenhesawalargesignthatsaid,"WelcometoPoland,MisterConover."Thecrowdsweretheretoseehim.WillisConoveralsoworkedtospreadjazzintheUnitedStates.HewastheannouncerformanyfamousjazzfestivalsandconcertsinAmerica.HepresentedmorethanthirtyconcertsattheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArtsinWashington,D.C.HeevenproducedtheWhiteHouseconcertincelebrationofjazzmusicianDukeEllington'sseventiethbirthdayinnineteensixty-nine.VOICEONE:WillisConoveroncesaidthatLouisArmstrongwastheheartofjazz,DukeEllingtonwasthesoulandCountBasiewasitshappydancingfeet.Hereispartofanineteenseventy-threeinterviewbyWillisConoverwiththegreatDukeEllington.ThiswasoneofthelasttimesConoverta