05/08/2026
A Tribute to Oscar Brown Jr. 🎙️ Film screening with donnie l. betts, music by Bob Schlesinger Quartet featuring. , & spoken word by Jeff Campbell
Oscar Brown Jr. (1926–2005) was an American singer-songwriter, poet, playwright, and civil rights activist known for blending jazz with astute social commentary. Born in Chicago, he gained national attention with his debut 1960 album Sin & Soul, which featured politically charged songs like “Bid ’Em In” and “Signifyin’ Monkey.” Brown used his music and writing to address issues such as racism, poverty, and inequality. Beyond music, he wrote plays, musicals, and poetry, and remained active in political and cultural movements throughout his life.
“Where I confront hate I will exemplify love. In the face of ugliness, I will present beauty. As an antidote to lies, I will reveal the truth. Boisterous, bellicose noises must be diminished by hip harmonies set to moving rhythms and messages. War can only be overcome by a mighty pressure for peace, of which I can only be a small part. But all that I can, I will do, largely through my songs and verses, everywhere continually by any means available now, or in the future.” - OBJ
Producer and director donnie l. betts is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, theater director and podcast host. His documentary “Music is My Life, My Politics, My Mistress: The Story of Oscar Brown Jr.” won 11 Best Film or Audience Choice awards, aired on PBS Plus stations nationwide. Music is My Life Politics My Mistress was featured in IDA Doc Magazine and is part of the Black Film Archives at Indiana University now streaming on kwelitv. His film Dearfield: The Road Less Traveled,” about the all-Black Colorado town was nominated for an Emmy. He won an Emmy for his film “My Voice” on hip hop artist and activist Jeff Campbell.
Bob Schlesinger - piano
Erica Brown - vocals
Gabe Rupe - bass
Harold Summey - drums
