Lancaster Productions International press release for Byard Lancaster
Item
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Title
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Lancaster Productions International press release for Byard Lancaster
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Description
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This press release invites the public to gather in support of and celebrate the birthday of Mrs. Mattie Humphrey, also known as “Sister Majida,” at Morgan’s Jazz Club located at 17 East Price Street in Germantown, Philadelphia.
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Released by Lancaster Productions International on July 7, 1989, this release provides details on Ms. Humphrey’s various jobs, hobbies, and involvement across the city, including a columnist for the Philadelphia Tribune, member of the Father Divine Mission on South Broad Street, and creator of “The Sunday Morning Breakfast Show” on WDAS-FM.
Alfie Pollitt and Byard Lancaster were noted to be the musicians for the occasion. Alfred “Aflie” Pollitt (1943-) of Bryn Mawr was a musician, though primarily a piano player, of “so-called jazz and rhythm and blues” (Temple University Libraries 2021). Byard Lancaster (August 6, 1942-August 23, 2012) of Germantown reached international talent both alone and with Sun Ra’s Arkestra and others, with a style described by the New York Times as “a hard, bright sound influenced by Coltrane… and a much more measured, melodic and almost folklike way of playing” (Ratliff 2012). Mr. Cody Anderson and Bert Lancaster were noted to be the special guest and host, respectively.
Mrs. Mattie Lee Milner Humphrey (July 15, 1926-November 12, 2001) was born, raised, and later resided in West Philadelphia (Downey 2001). Mrs. Humphrey was a “righteous pillar of the city for decades,” per the release. She “used her voice to campaign for antipoverty programs and prison reform,” the latter after her son was incarcerated in 1972 (Downey 2001). She graduated from Girls High, earned a Bachelor’s degree from Catholic University, her Master’s from Wayne University, and at age 62 a law degree from Villanova University (Downey 2001). The letter references her creation “The Sunday Morning Breakfast Show,” which began in 1969 on WDAS-FM. It grew from a “five-minute community-service spot” to a “two-hour program” around health and education (Downey 2001). In the year 1989 when this letter was composed, Mrs. Humphrey left the radio to “run an unsuccessful campaign to become a state legislator” (Downey 2001).
The letter urges folks to gather in community with purpose, stating that: “Any vision for the future must first project a progressive and developmental potential for network community systems.” They also suggest folks share their support and appreciation for Mrs. Humphrey with “a card, note, flowers” and donations.
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Mattie Humphrey is featured in Chapter 5 and 7 of Matthew J. Countryman’s “Up South: Civil Rights and Black Power in Philadelphia”
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Map to 17 East Price Street in Germantown, PA
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Mattie L. Humphrey’s Oral History Interview from Fall 1987 in Temple University Library’s Digital Collection
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Rights
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This material is subject to copyright law and is made available for private study, scholarship, and research purposes only. For access to the original or a high resolution reproduction, and for permission to publish, please contact Temple University Libraries, the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (blockson@temple.edu; 215-204-6632).
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Creator
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Lancaster Production International
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Date
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1989/07/07
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Language
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eng
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Spatial Coverage
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Philadelphia, PA
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Contributor
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Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
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Date Created
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1989
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Subject
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African American women
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Press releases
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Education
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Philadelphia
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Pennsylvania
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Talk show hosts, Radio
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Birthdays
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Social justice
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Activists, Political
