Ellis Haizlip

Ellis Haizlip (September 21, 1929 – January 25, 1991) was an African American theater and television producer. A 1954 graduate of Howard University, Haizlip had a career that included friendship with James Baldwin, Alvin Ailey, and other African-American luminaries. This led to producing Baldwin's AMEN CORNER in Europe, and Donald McKayle's BLACK NEW WORLD both in Europe and in New York City on station WNDT.[1]

With SOUL!, a one-hour series on WNET in New York City, Haizlip presented five years of mixed entertainment and public affairs on PBS. He introduced and/or featured many singers and political figures, such as Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson; poet Nikki Giovanni, minister Louis Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, and Amiri Baraka LeRoi Jones).[2]

SOUL! is now getting new recognition as a ground-breaking and socially important television show, and Haizlip is being considered the guiding force in that African-American Renaissance.[3]

Haizlip died of lung cancer in January 1991.[4] After his death, a number of his fellow artists, including writer Amiri Baraka, gathered in New York City at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hold a performance in his memory.[5]

References

  1. http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/bioh1/haizli01.htm
  2. "Daily News".
  3. Wald, Gayle (2015). IT'S BEEN BEAUTIFUL, SOUL! AND BLACK POWER television by Gayle Wald. Duke University Press, 2015. Duke University Press.
  4. Fraser, C. Gerald (1991-01-30). "NY Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  5. ""Ellis Haizlip Tribute", The New York Times, 1991-02-02, retrieved 2008-04-22".


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