Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
"Burn, Baby! BURN!"
When rioters in Watts, California, began shouting "Burn, Baby! BURN!" in the turmoil of 1965, they were echoing the most popular cry on rhythm-and-blues radio: The trademark of Magnificent Montague. In Los Angeles on KGFJ Montague yelled "Burn!" whenever he was playing a record that moved him. His listeners followed suit, calling Montague and shouting "Burn!" on the air. The emotion in that exchange reverberated with as much excitement as the music of Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding.
The slogan proved to be, dare I say it, so incindiery that "Bill" Epton Jr., a Maoist African-American activist, was "the first person convicted of criminal anarchy since the Red Scare of 1919"-—reportedly for the crime of uttering three words: "Burn, baby, burn."
In any event, “Disco Inferno” is a 1976 hit by The Trammps. It became a success in 1978 after being included on the soundtrack to the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever.
