Jim Simpson, the organiser of this month’s Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, has revealed the racial divides that still afflicted America’s music industry as late as 1979.
Music impresario Jim, the original manager of Black Sabbath, was talking to interviewer Lorraine Olley, a professional who works in the area of equalities, diversity and inclusivity.
Jim told Lorraine how he was once hosted on the jazz scene in Kansa City by Claude Williams, the legendary violinist and guitarist who once played with the Count Basie and his band.
But he recalled how the American Federation of Musicians had two branches in Kansas City – one for black musicians, and one for white musicians.
Find out more by watching Lorraine’s interview with Jim here:
Jim also retold the story behind the first Black Sabbath album, recorded when he was managing the band.
ENDS
