From a VH1 press release:
NEW YORK, August 12, 2008 – VH1 Classic and VH1 Soul will air The Golden Globe nominated documentary “Wattstax” on Wednesday, August 13 at 8:00PM ET/PT in honor of soul singer Issac Hayes. Filmmaker Mel Stuart captured the August 20, 1972 Wattstax music festival known as “the black Woodstock” at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in this epochal documentary. Memphis’s Stax Records commemorated the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots with this festival featuring powerful performances by Isaac Hayes, Albert King, Rufus and Carla Thomas, the Staple Singers, the Emotions, the Bar-Kays, and other greats of soul, R&B, and gospel—plus biting humor from a then little-known comedian Richard Pryor.
Wattstax brought out a rapt audience of 100,000 in a celebration of music, soul and the 1970’s “black is beautiful movement.” The documentary features exclusive interviews with Richard Pryor and Ted Lange among others and told the story of the 70’s Black experience through topical street interviews throughout Watts. The documentary closes with one of the most seminal moments in soul history, the late Issac Hayes performance of his classics “Theme from Shaft,” “Soulsville” and “Rolling Down A Mountain.”
VH1 Soul’s Isaac Hayes Tribute programming beginning Wednesday, August 13 - Sunday, August 17 to include:
• WATTSTAX – airs on Wednesday, August 13, Friday, August 15 and Sunday, August 17 at 8PM* each night
• SOUL DEEP "Southern Soul" - airs on August 13, 15 and 17 at 8PM* each night 2PM* and 10PM* each night
• Isaac Hayes video block following both programs
Hayes died Sunday at the age of 65, most likely of a stroke.
