Ellis Haizlip

Ellis Haizlip (September 21, 1929 – January 25, 1991) was an African American theater and television producer. A 1954 graduate of Howard University, Haizlip had a career that included friendship with James Baldwin, Alvin Ailey, and other African-American luminaries. This led to producing Baldwin's AMEN CORNER in Europe, and Donald McKayle's BLACK NEW WORLD both in Europe and in New York City on station WNDT.[1]

With SOUL!, a one-hour series on WNET in New York City, Haizlip presented five years of mixed entertainment and public affairs on PBS. He introduced and/or featured many singers and political figures, such as Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson; poet Nikki Giovanni, minister Louis Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, and Amiri Baraka LeRoi Jones).[2]

SOUL! is now getting new recognition as a ground-breaking and socially important television show, and Haizlip is being considered the guiding force in that African-American Renaissance.[3]

Haizlip died of lung cancer in January 1991.[4] After his death, a number of his fellow artists, including writer Amiri Baraka, gathered in New York City at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hold a performance in his memory.[5]

References

  1. ↑ http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/bioh1/haizli01.htm
  2. ↑ "Daily News".
  3. ↑ Wald, Gayle (2015). IT'S BEEN BEAUTIFUL, SOUL! AND BLACK POWER television by Gayle Wald. Duke University Press, 2015. Duke University Press.
  4. ↑ Fraser, C. Gerald (1991-01-30). "Ellis Haizlip, Producer, 61, Dies; Mentor to Many Black Performer". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  5. ↑ ""Ellis Haizlip Tribute", The New York Times, 1991-02-02, retrieved 2008-04-22".


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