- Tonight is a celebration of the American Roots Revue, featuring rare collaborations from some of Minnesota's most talented artists.

Let's go check it out.

(country music) (upbeat music) Welcome to the Dakota, a venue that hearkens back to the jazz suppers clubs of the past.

It's the kind of place where you can sit down, have dinner and see a world class performance.

I've only seen a handful of shows of the Dakota, and part of me feels like I'm not cool enough to be here, but then I'm usually glued to the edge of my seat that I forget all about it.

Tonight, we're bringing together the best of the best for an unforgettable night of music.

This lineup includes folk singer, Claudia Schmidt and gospel singers, Robert Robinson and Tonia Hughes Kendrick, they are phenomenal.

Organized by Larry Long and backed by an all star band, please welcome to stage American Roots Revue.

(audience applauding) (jazz music) ♪ If I had a hammer I'd hammer in the morning ♪ ♪ Morning ♪ ♪ I'd hammer in the evening ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ I would hammer out danger ♪ ♪ I'd hammer out a warning ♪ ♪ I would hammer out love between my brothers ♪ ♪ and my sisters ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ And if I had a bell, I would ring it in the morning ♪ ♪ Morning ♪ ♪ I would ring it in the evening ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ I would ring out danger ♪ ♪ I would ring out a warning ♪ ♪ I would ring out love between my brothers and sisters ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ If I had a song, I would sing it in the morning ♪ ♪ Morning ♪ ♪ I would sing it in the evening ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ I would sing out danger ♪ ♪ I would sing out a warning ♪ ♪ I would sing out love between my brothers and my sisters ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ Let me hear you play ♪ (jazz music) Joe Savage on pedal steel.

♪ I got a hammer ♪ ♪ Yes I do, and I've got a bell ♪ ♪ And I've got a song to sing all over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ It's a hammer of justice ♪ ♪ It is a bell of freedom ♪ ♪ It's a song about love between my brothers ♪ ♪ and my sisters ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ Everywhere I go ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over, all over, all over, all over, ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ ♪ All over this world ♪ - [Larry] Song by the late Pete Seeger (audience applauding) - Hey all, thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today.

- It's good to be here.

- It's good to be here.

- Can we start with some introductions?

- Yes, my name is Larry Long and I'm a member of American Roots Revue.

- Larry Long is American Roots Revue.

My name is Billy Steele and I play with American Roots Revue.

- So tell me what is American Roots Revue?

- Well, American Roots Revue got started with actually Billy's brother J.D.

Steele, who couldn't be with us, he's still with the group, but I had a contract with the Southern Poverty Law Center and I produced a book for them around celebration of the many cultures of this land that we call home.

And by doing so, J.D.

and I, we were talking about, it's really crazy this country is so divided even in the realm of music.

And so we thought instead of talking about it, we'll just do something about it.

So American Roots Revue was created to really celebrate the many cultures that come out of this land, to which we belong.

And from that, grew American Roots Revue.

And the artists that are featured in the band, including all band members and vocalists are not just artists, we're friends and all of us have a deep commitment to the communities we live in.

And so that's also a spirit of what American Roots Revue is.

It's not just music, it's really to validate the best of our intentions as a people.

- Wow.

And is it based here in Minnesota or is it something that is nationally, that travels as well?

- My wife and I live in the Longfellow Community and so it comes outta here and this is our 12th engagement at the Dakota Jazz Club.

We've toured the state of Minnesota through state arts board grants, into forgotten communities with veterans organizations.

- Yeah.

- With firefighters.

- Wow.

- Yeah, it's pretty cool.

- And being in the group being black, I get to travel all over places in Minnesota that I normally would never go.

Not because I wouldn't wanna travel, but I just never would probably just drop by.

So it's been really a great experience.

So I'm thankful to be a part of American Roots Revue and all these other groups that we've had an opportunity to share music with.

Music brings us all together in a space where we can actually share our heart.

It's the thing that makes us who we are.

Musicians are weird, strange people.

- Yeah.

- As much as we love music, it's something that it breaks language barriers and all these other things so that we can touch heart to heart 'cause we're all human beings.

- It breaks down walls, you know, even just listening to your sound check, I mean, at one point I was just in tears and then at other point I was sitting there drumming.

I mean you can't, I don't know, I don't think you can listen to people sharing music joyfully- - Right.

- ...or from their heart without letting yourself get invested.

- Absolutely.

- And I think, especially with language barriers, I'm an immigrant and my mom doesn't speak a lot of English, but every time I send her a video of my performances, she doesn't know what the heck they're saying, "Natalia, me encantó," she loves it because the music speaks to her - Beautiful, - ..even if the language isn't there.

Okay, so tell me about the music for this.

What kind of music do you bring together?

Is it the artists kind of come in and say, hey, I love this, or how do you program one of these performances?

- Well, you know, the music is eclectic, it's all over the place, it's amazing.

Larry's more of a folk singer and he tells amazing stories.

I think people in general, their ears will be amazed at what they hear because they're gonna hear almost every genre of music within the American music spectrum.

You know what I'm saying?

African music, African American music, folk music, the blues, gospel, all of it's there.

And it's from people who love music.

Although we are strange as musicians, we do really love music.

So you'll hear all these different styles of music in the program.

And I'm thankful that I get to play and sing with such phenomenal musicians.

- When you think about this Revue, what is it that you want audiences to walk away with?

- Some of our songs deal with some tough stuff.

And the fact is is that, we're going through tough times.

And so it's really looking those times straight in the eye, but to give people the courage and the faith to know that they're important and that the world is gonna be changed by a million small things.

And one of those small things is every person in this room, you, you, you, you each one of us, and if we put our faith and the fact that each one of us is gonna do something of significance for a better world, then we're like this great wheel of humanity with all these spokes and put trust in it.

And so our songs tries to weave all of that together to realize that we're part of a wonderful community and part of humanity.

And it's our obligation to do good for others.

- Amen.

- Y'all it is an honor genuinely to speak with both of you.

Congratulations on this, I can't wait to see it.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- You can sing along with us if you know this.

♪ I know a place ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody crying ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody worried ♪ ♪ Well, and ain't no smiling faces ♪ ♪ No.

No ♪ ♪ Lying to the races ♪ ♪ Help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on and help me y'all ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ I know a place ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody crying ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody worried ♪ ♪ No ♪ ♪ Oh, no ♪ ♪ And ain't no smiling faces ♪ ♪ No, no ♪ ♪ Lying to the races ♪ ♪ Well, help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on and help me y'all ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on Billy ♪ (instrumental music) - That's Billy Steele.

Mr. Joe Savage, come on Joe And that's George and Larry playing at the same time.

♪ Well, help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on put your hands together ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on and help me y'all ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Don't you wanna go, don't you wanna go ♪ ♪ Help me y'all ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on and help me y'all ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ We don't need no music let me hear sing ♪ ♪ Help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ I don't hear nobody sing ♪ ♪ Said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on, said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Put your hands together ♪ ♪ Help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Help me, help me ♪ ♪ Help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ I said help me, help me ♪ ♪ Help me, help me ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Come on said if you're ready ♪ ♪ I'll take you there ♪ ♪ Here we go ♪ (jazz music) (audience applauding) - [Larry] Tonia Hughes Kendrick.

(soft acoustic music) ♪ Out here the trees keep their secrets ♪ ♪ And the stars look the other way ♪ ♪ Out here the moon hangs a cloud for cover ♪ ♪ So darling, you can stay ♪ ♪ Stay till the question burning in your soul is answered ♪ ♪ Stay till your body is flooded with relief ♪ ♪ Stay till the fear is lifted off you like a mist ♪ ♪ And you can kiss the grief ♪ ♪ You can kiss the grief ♪ ♪ Bye ♪ ♪ Out here there's no one asking where you came from ♪ ♪ Or just how long you plan to stay ♪ ♪ Out here you've got all the time you need ♪ ♪ To weep or sleep or pray ♪ ♪ Weep for the things you lost, ♪ ♪ not knowing you were losing ♪ ♪ Sleep off the weariness that holds you in its clutch ♪ ♪ Pray if you will ♪ ♪ for all the ones like you who never knew ♪ ♪ How very much ♪ ♪ a single loving touch ♪ ♪ unties ♪ ♪ Unclench your hands ♪ ♪ Unbind your heart ♪ ♪ Unwind the song so tightly wrapped ♪ ♪ Inside your tender throat ♪ ♪ See how it might float you free ♪ ♪ Float you free ♪ ♪ Float you free ♪ (gentle acoustic music) ♪ Out here there's nothing to prevent you ♪ ♪ From leaving just the way you came ♪ ♪ But out here your voice rings so clearly ♪ ♪ That nothing's ever quite the same ♪ ♪ No one is meant to stay out here forever ♪ ♪ Everyone finds their way in trouble and despair ♪ ♪ Raven keeps count of all the paths in and out ♪ ♪ He circles in the air, we come from everywhere ♪ ♪ To try and try again, to try out here ♪ ♪ Out here ♪ ♪ Out here ♪ ♪ Out here ♪ (audience applauding) - [Claudia] Thank you.

- Hey y'all thank you so much for chatting with me tonight.

Why don't we go around and tell me your name and a little bit about the music you perform.

- I'm Tonia Hughes Kendrick.

I am a local gospel artist here, grew up in church.

So sung in gospel choirs, and now I'm just doing my own solo thing, primarily worship bleeding at different churches.

But yeah, that's kind of my background.

- Yeah.

- I grew up in Michigan singing in churches.

My first choir, when I was four years old, I think.

But it was, it wasn't gospel music, it was white dorky Lutheran choir music.

But I've always like, I was in every possible choir I could be in growing up in my small town before I went off to be in a solo artist, which was in 1974.

So it's been almost 50 years I've been doing a music thing.

- What's this Revue been like, cause you guys are singing all sorts of different kinds of music and styles and genres.

What is that like?

Especially as a singer where they all feel very different and they require different kinds of, manage of use of your voice?

- I do a lot of collaborating with different artists of different genres of music.

And I call them unusual collaborations because you have these different genres, you just don't think would work when they come together and somehow it magically works.

And that just confirms that music really is a universal language, a language that everybody can speak.

It just happens, so yeah.

- It takes musicians who are serving the music, who aren't in it on a big ego thing, because that's what allows you to listen to what's going on and figure out how to blend and where to sit with everything.

Everybody in this group is about the project and the music and believes in it.

So that makes all the difference in the world.

- Absolutely.

- Yeah.

- I'm a teacher, I teach choir and I talk to my students about how the beauty of singing is that we have text, compared to maybe being in an orchestra where the music is still there, but as singers we get text and we get to share the text, and the way we shape or express kind of communicates with the audience.

From tonight's Revue, what is the message that you wanna communicate tonight with an audience?

What do you want an audience to walk away with.

- That there is hope, there is hope.

- Joy.

- Yeah.

- I want people to feel some just fundamental joy, you know?

- Absolutely, I mean, we've been locked up two years.

- Yeah.

- Where just music is just kind, we're just now being able to perform in front of audiences.

- Yeah.

- So leaving joyful would be awesome.

- Yeah, like I heard somebody describe live performance is like sharing air, it's almost like sacred.

Sharing air.

- I love that.

- And I heard somebody describe like coming back together the first time in live music, they called it collective effervescence.

Isn't that wonderful?

I just love that phrase, yeah.

- But it's true.

I think, you know, I have a keyboard at home and I sang for myself and I played for myself, but I don't wanna sing for myself and play.

I wanna sing with others.

I wanna make music with others because in working with people who are so much more talented than you, that you get excited and inspired and you wanna try and you wanna reach and I think that that energy is gonna be so clear.

Especially with different genres and singers and instruments and just that's amazing.

Oh, it's gonna be awesome.

Thank you guys so much for chatting with me.

I really can't wait to hear the show.

- Thank you.

(audience cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ When I was young I didn't have ♪ ♪ A way to let my feelings show ♪ ♪ Even though my mom and dad, yes they did ♪ ♪ They did their best to build a home ♪ ♪ I would hide out in my room, yes, I would ♪ ♪ Listening to that music play ♪ ♪ Just a-howling at the moon, yes I would ♪ ♪ Just to feel my body sway ♪ ♪ If you love someone ♪ ♪ You won't do anything ♪ ♪ To make them feel bad ♪ ♪ To make them feel bad ♪ ♪ If you love someone ♪ ♪ You won't do anything ♪ ♪ To make them feel sad ♪ ♪ To make them feel sad ♪ ♪ Then I traveled around the world ♪ ♪ Just sitting on the couch ♪ ♪ When I found myself that girl with long black curls ♪ ♪ Who showed me what life's about ♪ ♪ Then sure enough, I surmise ♪ ♪ I had some growing up to do ♪ ♪ When I looked into your eyes, it's no lie ♪ ♪ I knew I would marry you ♪ ♪ If you love someone ♪ ♪ You won't do anything ♪ ♪ To make them feel bad ♪ ♪ To make them feel bad ♪ ♪ If you love someone ♪ ♪ You won't do anything ♪ ♪ To make them feel sad ♪ ♪ To make them feel sad ♪ ♪ People talk of judgment day, yes they do ♪ ♪ But for me I'm in no rush ♪ ♪ I'd rather listen to their music play ♪ ♪ True love takes work, it's not just luck ♪ ♪ I recall that first kiss ♪ ♪ May that feeling not go away ♪ ♪ Not because I simply wish to reminisce ♪ ♪ But to say true love it's here to stay ♪ ♪ If you love someone ♪ ♪ You won't do anything ♪ ♪ To make them feel bad ♪ ♪ To make them feel bad ♪ ♪ If you love someone ♪ ♪ You won't do anything ♪ ♪ To make them feel sad ♪ ♪ To make them feel sad ♪ ♪ If you love someone ♪ ♪ You won't do anything ♪ ♪ To make them feel bad ♪ ♪ You won't make them cry ♪ ♪ You'll make them feel so glad to be alive ♪ ♪ Don't you know ♪ ♪ Don't you know that I love you ♪ ♪ You know yes I do ♪ ♪ Don't you know ♪ ♪ Don't you know that I care for you ♪ ♪ Yes I do ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ Amazing grace ♪ ♪ How sweet ♪ ♪ the sound ♪ ♪ That saved ♪ ♪ a wretch ♪ ♪ like me ♪ ♪ I once was lost.

♪ ♪ But now ♪ ♪ I am found ♪ ♪ Was blind, ♪ ♪ but now ♪ ♪ I see ♪ ♪ Twas grace ♪ ♪ that taught ♪ ♪ my heart ♪ ♪ to fear ♪ ♪ And grace ♪ ♪ my fears ♪ ♪ relieved ♪ ♪ How precious ♪ ♪ did that grace ♪ ♪ that grace appear ♪ ♪ The hour ♪ ♪ I first believed ♪ ♪ Through many dangers,♪ ♪ toils and snares ♪ ♪ I have ♪ ♪ already come ♪ ♪ 'Twas grace that brought ♪ ♪ me safe thus far ♪ ♪ And grace will lead ♪ ♪ It will lead me home ♪ - So the composer of this song, Mr. John Newton, he was the captain of a slave ship.

And he would bring precious African cargo and sail across the sea to sell them to our country.

But one day during one of his trips, he had a spiritual awakening and Mr. John Newton decided to turn the ship around and in light of that, I just want you to know that it's never too late, it is never too late to turn this ship around.

Can I get a amen?

- [Audience] Amen.

- All right.

So now I need you to help me sing this song, okay?

We're gonna sing when we've been there 10,000 years.

♪ When we've been there ♪ ♪ 10,000 years ♪ ♪ Bright shining ♪ ♪ as the sun ♪ ♪ We've no less days ♪ ♪ to sing ♪ ♪ Sing God's praise ♪ ♪ Than when we've first ♪ ♪ begun ♪ Now, can I just hear your voices sing amazing grace?

♪ Amazing grace,♪ ♪ how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ That saved ♪ ♪ a wretch like me ♪ ♪ I once was lost,♪ ♪ but now I am found ♪ ♪ Was blind,♪ ♪ but now I see ♪ Come on let's sing I once was lost.

♪ I once ♪ ♪ I once was lost,♪ ♪ but now ♪ ♪ I am found ♪ ♪ Was blind,♪ ♪ but now ♪ ♪ I see ♪ (audience applauding) - Robert, it is so nice to meet you.

Tell me about yourself, what kind of music do you do?

- Well, I grew up singing gospel music.

I have an older brother, two younger sisters, and we used to sing as a group.

I've been doing this long time.

- Larry was telling me that you're called the Pavarotti of gospel.

- He's been misinformed.

- I have heard you sing.

And it's beautiful, it's so free too.

- Oh, bless you, bless you.

- When you work as a singer then do you like singing more as a soloist or do you like that relationship of singing with a group or like a player?

- You know, I like both, I like both.

When you're with as a soloist, to me, it's a lot more work.

It challenges you to do more than what you're already doing so that people still get the full presence of the song without all the extra bodies.

But I like both, I like group singing, choir singing because there's nothing like lifting your voice, and then there's something that comes in behind you that's glorious and harmonic and beautiful.

It's incredible.

- I sing with choirs, I'm a choir director, and it's the magic of you take a breath and everybody breathes.

- [Robert] Yeah.

- At the same time, in the same way.

And then when that first sound happens, I mean, whether it's two people or 30 or 50- - Right.

- ...it is- - It's glorious, it's glorious.

There's no words to express how powerful it is.

Before it can get to the audience, it's powerful for those who are creating the experience.

Sometimes I think I take it for granted because I've heard it and been a part of it for so long, but when I stop and I listen, it is like, wow, this is why I'm continuing to do what I'm doing.

- And it's a full body experience to get to make music like that.

- [Robert] Yeah.

- So we're here for this American Roots Revue.

- Right.

- Tell me more about it, what's the show like?

- When Larry first kind of started this whole thing, it was about trying to do music that, pulls from experiences of the past.

And it's been powerful.

It's been really, really powerful to see all of it just kind of come together.

I just feel really blessed to be surrounded by these people who really musically are giants.

You know what I mean?

They're just real giants.

And I get to be a part of that.

But all of these pieces just carry a message that helps the listener to reflect back on life experience and how we have traveled as people, the journey for all of us has been great.

And if you open your eyes and your heart to it, it can help to make a difference in your world.

- And I'm kind of moved just to hear you share some of this.

I think especially after two years, of two really long- - [Robert] You bet.

- ...hard years where so many of us stopped making music.

- That's right.

- What is it like to pick back up and get to sing with people that you've made music with for years and new friends that you're making and to do it with an audience?

- I'm not gonna lie to you, I feel like it is a gift.

We've been given another gift.

I think in some ways we kind of ignored what we were given and we took it for granted.

I think all of us are trying to put our best foot forward and create a moment that people can take with them forever.

That's kind of like why we do what we do.

We want everybody to walk away with that moment.

If I can say one thing to wake you up or to keep you encouraged to keep living, I've done my job.

- Thank you.

- You're welcomed.

(audience cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ We sang out loud at midnight ♪ ♪ We sang out loud at midnight ♪ ♪ We prayed out loud from our prison ♪ ♪ We prayed out loud in our prison ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ We marched from Selma to Montgomery ♪ ♪ We marched from Selma to Montgomery ♪ ♪ We laid down our lives in Memphis ♪ ♪ We laid down our lives in Memphis ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Everybody's chain ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Let me say that one more time ♪ ♪ We marched to Selma to Montgomery ♪ ♪ We marched to Selma to Montgomery ♪ ♪ We laid down our lives in Memphis ♪ ♪ We laid down our lives in Memphis ♪ ♪ Everybody's chain came off ♪ ♪ Yes it did, all the prison doors ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Everybody's chain ♪ ♪ Everybody's chain came off ♪ ♪ And all the prison doors ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Even the shy one in the corner ♪ ♪ The mean one in the dark ♪ ♪ The one twisted with hatred ♪ ♪ The one with angry marks ♪ ♪ The one who broke all the rules ♪ ♪ And that boy with the crazy hair ♪ ♪ The wealthy, the thieves and the liars ♪ ♪ Even the ones that don't seem to care ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Come on.

♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Yes it does ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Everybody's chain ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ All right, who gon play me ♪ ♪ Let me hear you play a little bit, come on ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Listen ♪ ♪ Even the shy one in the corner ♪ ♪ And the mean one in the dark ♪ ♪ The one twisted with hatred ♪ ♪ And the one with angry marks ♪ ♪ The one that broke all the rules ♪ ♪ And that girl with the crazy hair ♪ ♪ The wealthy, the thieves and the liar ♪ ♪ Even the ones that don't seem to care ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Mighty, mighty good ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Oh, yes it does ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Every, every, every, everybody ♪ ♪ Everybody's chains came off ♪ ♪ All the prison doors ♪ ♪ All the prison doors swung open ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Mighty, mighty good ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ ♪ Feels so good to be free again ♪ (audience applauding) - Come on.

♪ It took a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To get a bead on the meanness ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To turn the gray into black ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To put a voice to the anger ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ But now there's no turning back ♪ ♪ It was a long, long road ♪ ♪ Long, long road ♪ ♪ To walk behind and be silent ♪ ♪ It was a long, long road ♪ ♪ Long, long road ♪ ♪ To carry all that pain ♪ ♪ It was a long, long road ♪ ♪ Long, long road ♪ ♪ But now that journey is ending ♪ ♪ It was a long, long road ♪ ♪ Long, long road ♪ ♪ We'll never travel again ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To turn the shame into power ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ For every voice to be heard ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To break a system of violence ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To put in all into words ♪ ♪ To try and put into words ♪ (acoustic music) ♪ It takes a long, long view ♪ ♪ Long, long view ♪ ♪ To build a bridge for our daughters ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long view ♪ ♪ Long, long view ♪ ♪ To give a choice to our sons ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long view ♪ ♪ Long, long view ♪ ♪ To not forget what the price was ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long view ♪ ♪ Long, long view ♪ ♪ To know the work's never done ♪ ♪ Never never done ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To raise our voices together ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ But now we walk hand in hand ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To break a system of violence ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time ♪ ♪ Long, long time ♪ ♪ To come to understand ♪ ♪ What I just trying to understand ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time, long, long time ♪ ♪ It was a long, long road, long, long road ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long view, long, long view ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time, long, long time ♪ ♪ Let me hear you ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time, long, long time ♪ ♪ It was a long, long road, long, long road ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long view, long, long view ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time, long, long time ♪ ♪ It took a long, long time, long, long time ♪ ♪ It was a long, long road, long, long road ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long view, long, long view ♪ ♪ It takes a long, long, long time ♪ ♪ But together I believe ♪ ♪ We will see our way through ♪ (audience applauding) Yeah, thank you.

- [Larry] Claudia Schmidt.

- Hey Michael, so give me an introduction.

Tell me about yourself and the kind of music that you do.

- Oh, I do all music.

I don't have a strong suit.

It's whatever the situation calls for.

If a professional person should be able to handle it.

So I think of myself as a professional, I don't have a particular genre or strong suit, I just try to make everything better.

- Yeah, and you're a drummer.

- I am.

- And kind of a legend 'cause you were Prince's drummer?

- Well, I worked for a legend, I'd say, but that doesn't make me legendary.

I'm just a local, I'm a local Minneapolis musician.

- Who toured with Prince.

- Yeah.

- How long did you guys play together?

- Oh, well I joined the band in 1989.

And I went straight till about 1996 and he ended up sort of calling me just spontaneously to do studio sessions here and there.

And that led to a little more activity through the years.

- So we're here tonight for the American Roots Revue.

Tell me more about the project, what's your perspective like?

- I don't know if I'm qualified to say, (chuckles) I think that it's pretty much Larry Long's vision.

- I will say that Claudia and Tonia, when I was chatting with them earlier, they were saying, oh, he's got perfect pitch.

And out of nowhere, you'll hear him say "Claudia, it's a B."

And they were just teasing about, you might see him pop his head out in the middle of the show.

- I try not to yell at people during the show, but if.

- Fair game in rehearsal?

- Yeah, when you have perfect pitch, it's a blessing and a curse.

- Yeah.

- You know what's going on, especially as a drummer, 'cause I can't influence the harmonic environment at all.

I can only tell when something's going wrong.

- [Natalia] Yeah.

- I think I have a pretty strong skillset as a musical director 'cause I can correct people quickly in a language that they can understand.

- Yeah.

- If we're all in the same room or on the same stage, you know the respect and the love is already there.

So let's speak directly about the musical terms and don't take it personally and we'll get somewhere.

That's pretty much me in a nutshell, let's work together and do it right, that's all.

- So tell me about tonight's show there's a lot of different genres and styles and it's kind of, it's very expansive.

What's happening on stage.

What's your perspective like as the drummer who has to adapt so quickly to all these different styles?

- Much like anything, if you're creative, you gotta know all the languages.

If you wanna work as a musician, you have to be versatile.

- [Natalia] Yeah.

- So it's nothing for me, as I told you, I worked for Prince, Prince played any kind of music he felt like, so I've been training for this my whole life, more or less I grew up in a household where I heard every kind of music.

- What do you want audiences to walk away with when they see this Revue.

- The common thread throughout all of this diverse music it's all pretty much protest music.

You can affect people before they even know they've been changed.

Music has that power.

So I guess it's it because of its transformational properties, that's what we're trying to do.

I mean, this music is all protest music, but it's also all about love.

Music is love as far as I'm concerned.

Everybody's got gifts, this is how I share mine.

I always want people to be uplifted.

- Well, I am excited to hear it.

Thank you so much for sitting with me.

- Me too, I hope we sound good.

(rock music) ♪ When I was young I could not speak ♪ ♪ My tongue it was too weak ♪ ♪ When the teacher called my name I tried to talk ♪ ♪ But nothing came ♪ ♪ From the good book my Grandpa read ♪ ♪ These words to me he said ♪ ♪ Take a look at all he did ♪ ♪ Shine your light don't keep it hid ♪ ♪ The whole wide world ♪ ♪ The whole wide world ♪ ♪ The whole wide world depends on you ♪ ♪ Depending on, depending on you ♪ ♪ Out of pain there comes bliss ♪ ♪ Guitar strings on my fingertips ♪ ♪ You can dance, you can sing ♪ ♪ You can soar without wings ♪ ♪ To where the condor and eagle meet ♪ ♪ Shooting clouds beneath your feet ♪ ♪ Grab your dreams and don't give up ♪ ♪ Good for nothing, nothing but ♪ ♪ The whole wide world ♪ ♪ Everybody ♪ ♪ The whole wide world ♪ ♪ The whole wide world depends on you ♪ ♪ Come on play us George ♪ ♪ Depending on, depending on you ♪ (rock music) ♪ The flower knows when the bloom ♪ ♪ You know the water knows when rise ♪ ♪ In this world without end ♪ ♪ How on earth can I ♪ ♪ Love myself if I can't love somebody else ♪ ♪ This ground it's holy ground ♪ ♪ Oh, yay ♪ ♪ This ground it's holy ground ♪ ♪ The whole wide world ♪ ♪ The whole wide world ♪ ♪ The whole wide world depends on you ♪ ♪ Depending on, depending on you ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This holy ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Come on it's holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ ♪ This ground is holy ground ♪ (audience applauding) (audience cheering) - [Man] Funding for this program is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, Jennine and John Speier and these Stage supporters.

(soft music)