Roland Hayes and the Lost Generation

Here’s the extraordinary story of Roland Hayes, another great (and largely forgotten) creator of new cosmologies. The Vanishing of Harry Pace was created and produced by Shima Oliaee and Jad Abumrad. This series was produced in collaboration with author Kiese Laymon, scholar Imani Perry, writer Cord Jefferson, WQXR’s Terrance McKnight, and WNYC's Jami Floyd. Based on the book "Black Swan Blues: the Hard Rise and Brutal Fall of America’s First Black Owned Record Label" by Paul Slade. Featuring interviews with Pace's descendants and more than 40 musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy. This episode featured scenes from Christopher Brooks' and Robert Sims' biography, "Roland Hayes: The Legacy of an American Tenor." Thank you to actor William Jackson Harper for helping us bring Berlin to life. This episode featured the following music: Robert Sims Sings the Spirituals of Roland Hayes Bill Doggett's collection of Black Swan records Black Swans: The First Recordings of Black Classical Music Performers Du Bist Die Ruh by Roland Hayes Were You There by Roland Hayes Vesti La Giubba by Roland Hayes