Remembering Horace Tapscott

..music in the midst of rebellion...

REMEMBERING HORACE TAPSCOTT: CAPTURING THE RHYTHMS 

His notes were flying

like they was light 

and darkness combined; 

like they was the laughter of those 

who refused to be confined. 

~~~~~

His notes were flying 

like rainbows, dissipating 

then emerging again, sharper 

against synchronized time; 

like they had just seen the 

beauty of a swinging Black Hole. 

~~~~~~

His notes were flying 

in the melodies of people's lives. 

Colors woven tightly 

as they spoke in tongues of 

blues, jazz, spirituals 

and hip-hop jive. 

Each voice, each color 

was the rhythm of shimmering lucidity 

and resistance activity. 

His notes were flying, 

driving the flames higher 

in joyous rebellion 

and crimson skies. 

'Hey man, the people are celebrating 

and they need music.' 

Hot and jazzy 

sounds of sweet 

fiery heat. 

Cooled only by the smiles 

on the faces of people's liberation. 

~~~~~ 

Watts, 

hot kiloWatts 

electro shocks 

1965 

the fires licked the skies; 

captured in his notes 

as they fly 

into the people's eyes. 

You should have heard them smile. 

Molotovs 

bullets 

the swirling notes 

of Tapscott's Pan-Afrikan People's Arkestra 

chased them piggies away. 

Rejoice! 

Hallelujah! 

the people had some justice 

for a few days. 

Tripping on all them notes; 

dreaming how nice things 

will be when the people have their final say. 

~~~ 

Ol Tapscott, he say 

'We gotta give them music.' 

And his notes were flying 

like smiles 

on the faces of people's liberation..... 

~~redzone~~

Author's Note

Tapscott was a pianoist.. during the Watts Rebellion, he took his piano and the rest of his orchestra, loaded eveyone onto a flat bed truck and drove thru the streets of Watts playing music as people danced in the streets in celebration... he was loved by the people and is missed dearly for both his music and his support and love for the people... This poem was written in 1998 shortly after hearing of his death. I hope I have done him justice. Thanks for reading