The Vanishing of Harry Pace (Radiolab): Recent Episodes
WNYC Studios
From the creators of Dolly Parton's America, Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee, comes a new series 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. It was Motown before Motown, FUBU before FUBU: Black Swan Records. The label founded 100 years ago by Harry Pace. Pace launched the career of Ethel Waters, inadvertently invented the term rock n roll, played an important role in W.C. Handy becoming "Father of the Blues," inspired Ebony and Jet magazines, and helped desegregate the South Side of Chicago in an epic Supreme Court battle. Then, he disappeared. The Vanishing of Harry Pace is a series about the phenomenal but forgotten man who changed America. It's a story about betrayal, family, hidden identities, and a time like no other.
Lift Every Voice.
Black Swan Records was first to record the anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing. From a family's Thanksgiving dinner, we portal through to the song's past, present, and future.
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 over forty musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy.
Thank you to young Miles Francis and his family for bringing our Thanksgiving scene to life.
This episode features the book May We Forever Stand written by Imani Perry, all about the Black National Anthem.
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 over forty 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
Our Harlem Moon.
In this spin-off tale, Ethel Waters hijacks a degrading song and makes the music her own.
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 over forty musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy.
Thank you to our podcast friends at Throughline for featuring our series on their show. Check out their feed for an exclusive behind-the-scenes interview about the series with Rund, Ramtin, Jad and Shima.
Black No More, White No More.
We follow Harry's grandkids and great grandkids as they grapple with his legacy in their own lives.
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 over forty musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy.
Dreams Deferred.
The story of the post Black Swan years. We follow Harry’s Supreme Court battle to desegregate the South Side of Chicago, and then the mysterious decision which forces him into seclusion, before his untimely death.
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 over forty musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy.
The Rise and Fall of Black Swan.
It was Motown before Motown, FUBU before FUBU: Black Swan Records, the record company founded by Harry Pace.
The Vanishing of Harry Pace was created and produced by Shima Oliaee and Jad Abumrad.
Harry Pace founded Black Swan Records exactly 100 years ago. Pace launched the career of Ethel Waters, inadvertently invented the term rock n roll, played an important role in W.C. Handy becoming "Father of the Blues," inspired Ebony and Jet magazines, and helped desegregate the South Side of Chicago in an epic Supreme Court battle. Then, he disappeared. The Vanishing of Harry Pace is a series about the phenomenal but forgotten man who changed the American music scene. It's a story about betrayal, family, hidden identities, and a time like no other.
This series was produced in collaboration with author Kiese Laymon, scholar Imani Perry, screenwriter Cord Jefferson, and WQXR’s Terrance McKnight. Jami Floyd is our consulting producer; our fact checker is Natalie Meade. Peter Pace lent his voice for our readings. Based on the book Black Swan Blues: the Hard Rise and Brutal Fall of America’s First Black Owned Record Label by Paul Slade. The series features interviews with Pace's descendants and over forty musicians, historians, writers, and musicologists, all of whom grapple with Pace’s enduring legacy.
This series is also a partnership with Radio Diaries.
Harry Pace touched and changed nearly every aspect our world 100 years ago, and then was erased. The Vanishing of Harry Pace includes the incredible rise and fall of America’s first Black-owned record label Black Swan Records -a journey with tales of betrayal, family, hidden identities, and crossed color lines. Pace’s descendants as well as over forty musicians, historians, writers and musicologists join us in grappling with Harry’s story, to un-vanish the vanishing.
From the team who brought you Dolly Parton's America, Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee. Listen on Radiolabwherever you get your podcasts.