Now in his early 80s, Sales was a huge jazz fan and regularly introduced greats like Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker to the stage of his 1950s Detroit-based “Soupy’s On” TV show. Sales hosted Brown on his show and as chance would have it, recorded the performance, which remains the only film in existence of Brown playing his trumpet. The clip, which appears in Ken Burns’ documentary, “Jazz,” was shown following the award presentation.
L-R: Soupy Sales, Kathy O’Connell (host of Kids Corner, WXPN), Marc Dicciani (Director, School of Music, The University of the Arts), Sean Buffington (President, The University of the Arts)
In the clip, Sales offered congratulations to Brown for becoming a father. Following the screening, an obviously touched Clifford Brown Jr., who served as the MC for Brownie Speaks," thanked Sales profusely for saving the clip and for all that he had done for jazz and jazz musicians.
In acceptance remarks delivered for him by jazz singer and actress Annie Ross, best known as a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Sales recognized Brown’s brilliance, stating “The musical genius of Clifford Brown was obvious to everyone who encountered him. The sounds he recorded in his brief time thrill us today. ‘Joy Spring’ remains more than a song title. It is the essence of listening to Clifford Brown, a joy in music that springs forth all these years after his death.”
For more information contact University of the Arts, Media Relations.