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Episode 4: A New World Order

Episode 3 of 4

Lenny Kravitz concludes the story of Curtis Mayfield. The final episode, New World Order, covers the tragic circumstances preceding his death and celebrates his enduring legacy.

Lenny Kravitz concludes the story of Curtis Mayfield. The final episode, New World Order, covers the tragic circumstances preceding his death and celebrates his enduring legacy.

On 13 August 1990 Curtis was doing a sound-check for an outdoor concert, onstage at Wingate Field, Flatbush, Brooklyn when the lighting rig came down on top of him crushing his spine in three places, and resulting in him being paralysed from the neck down. However, it did not deter him and he managed to produce a new studio album, New World Order in 1994. During the recording Curtis had to lie on his back in order to give some gravitational power to his singing.

His accident led to a re-appraisal of his work and several tribute albums were produced. He also received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. But the long term effects of the accident proved costly, and he died on 26 December 1999, aged only 57. Curtis Mayfield's contribution to soul music remains immense. He recorded some of the finest soul vocal group music of the 1960s; as a solo artist he helped pioneer funk; and he introduced hard-hitting urban commentary into his music, leading the way for Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and Stevie Wonder's Innervisions.

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Sep 2020 03:30

Music Played

  • Curtis Mayfield

    WE GOTTA HAVE PEACE

    • THE BEST OF CURTIS MAYFIELD.
    • NA.
    • SNAD-552.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    Homeless

    • Curtis Mayfield: Move On Up CD2.
    • n/a.
    • T7000227534.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    Breakin' In The Streets

  • Curtis Mayfield

    Do Be Down

    • Curtis Mayfield: Move On Up CD2.
    • n/a.
    • T7000227534.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    TO BE INVISIBLE

    • THE BEST OF CURTIS MAYFIELD.
    • NA.
    • SNAD-552.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    Think (Instrumental)

    • Superfly Original Soundtrack.
    • n/a.
    • T7000717875.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    Never Say You Can't Survive

    • Love Peace Understanding CD3.
    • n/a.
    • T7000475083.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    Billy Jack

    • Love Peace Understanding CD2.
    • Warner Music UK Limited.
    • T0702330139.
  • Whitney Houston

    Look Into Your Heart

    • A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield.
    • n/a.
    • T0702418345.
  • Bruce Springsteen

    Gypsy Woman

    • A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield.
    • n/a.
    • T0702418345.
  • B.B. King

    Woman's Got Soul

    • A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield.
    • n/a.
    • T0702418345.
  • Phil Collins

    I've Been Trying

    • A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield.
    • Virgin Records Ltd.
    • T7000279529.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    The Got Dang Song

    • NEW WORLD ORDER.
    • WARNER.
    • 9362-463482.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    We People Who Are Darker Than Blue

    • Curtis: Curtis Mayfield.
    • MOVIEPLAY.
    • MPF-74026.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    NEW WORLD ORDER

    • NEW WORLD ORDER.
    • WARNER.
    • 9362-463482.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    Here But I'm Gone

    • NEW WORLD ORDER.
    • WARNER.
    • 9362-463482.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    People Get Ready

    • Legends of Soul.
    • m+S.
    • na-na.
  • Curtis Mayfield

    THE MAKINGS OF YOU

    • CURTIS.
    • RHINO.
    • 8122-799322.
  • Bob Marley

    One Love/People Get Ready

    • Exodus.
    • Island.
    • TGLCD-6.
  • The Impressions

    CHOICE OF COLORS

    • THIS IS MY COUNTRY.
    • SEQUEL.
    • NEMCD-782.
  • The Impressions

    I'M SO PROUD

    • A BRONX TALE (SOUNDTRACK).
    • EPIC.
    • 474806-2.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 Jul 2011 00:00
  • Fri 27 Jan 2012 00:00
  • Fri 20 Jun 2014 02:00
  • Fri 6 Mar 2015 02:00
  • Fri 25 Mar 2016 02:00
  • Fri 4 Sep 2020 03:30