Tulsa Story

Burning Of Tulsa

You are listening to Greenwood

THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG

Greenwood (May 2021) The first song I was inspired to write about was the Tulsa Race Massacre. THINGS TO KNOW: I had not considered writing a whole album at this point, but I had to write the song!!

Black Wall Street (Dec 2021) The last song written for the album. I felt like I needed to explain Greenwood in its context. THINGS TO KNOW: Your introduction to the voice of Vincent Bates!!

Thursday Night (Jun 2021): Thursday Night was the maid's day off in Tulsa. They could go back to their families for one day a week, as they lived on the white folks' property and cooked and cleaned for the other six days. Not much was written about it, but I found an interesting footnote of "Life in Greenwood"! THINGS TO KNOW: Introducing the beautiful voice of Tina Spears and her soulful voice!

Tulsa Leadership (Aug 2021)   Sometimes, you have to tell the story without rhyme. So, the first of 5 narrations, I got my co-conspirator for the album, Daniel T. Coates, to read this one. THINGS TO KNOW: I would have liked to list several more, but it would take 20 minutes to read!!

One Hundred Years Ago (Jun 2021) That is when it all happened, and none of it made most history books and certainly not taught in the Virginia Education System, right along with the lies we were brainwashed within the South!! THINGS TO KNOW: My favorite line is," I'd been better in the Navy while I defended the nation……..for 24 years!!

Little Jimmy Jones (June 2021) The story of Dick Rowland needed an introduction, and there was too much to put into the next song, Dick and Sarah! THINGS TO KNOW: Miss Daimey Rowland was a saint for taking this street orphan in! Daniel T. Coates does a great Jimmy!

Dick and Sarah (Jun 2021) I had to write about the young couple that "lit the match"! THINGS TO KNOW: According to one book, Sarah Page returned to Tulsa for a short time!

Sheriff McCullough (Aug 2021) I found Sheriff the ONLY white man in Tulsa deserving mention in the album. He made a bold stand, although he could have gotten Dick Rowland out of town much earlier and MAYBE stopped the bloodshed. THINGS TO KNOW: Sheriff McCullough was voted in and out of the office several times before retiring!

Riots Of The Red Summer (Aug 2021) I don't think one can understand the Tulsa Massacre without knowing about the Red Summer. THINGS TO KNOW. As my narrator Daniel T. Coates puts it, it's a long list, nothing to be proud of.

Red Summer (Jul 2021) It deserved a song also.   THINGS TO KNOW: Such a compelling story, hard not to be motivated to write a song!

Lynching And The KKK (Aug 2021) All part of the Red Summer theme leading up to the Tulsa Race Massacre. THINGS TO KNOW: Vincent Bates does a fine job narrating this story!

Grandpa Johnson (Aug 2021)   First, I have to tell you, this song is fiction. It was written to be a closer to the album. It may be fiction, but I researched everything and did the math, so it "Could" have happened. THINGS TO KNOW: Vincent Bates shines on his rendition of Willie Johnson the 3^rd.

Survivors: (Aug 2021) The most compelling stories were from the Survivors that we were fortunate to hear. THINGS TO KNOW: This song introduces the beautiful voice of Sapphire!

Reflections (Feb 2022) I felt the album needs some personal words from me. THINGS TO KNOW: I’m sending some copies of the album to some of the most racist school districts in Texas, Alabama and Mississippi just for the hell of it.