The 麻豆传媒 City University Film Institute鈥檚 documentary series will close its 19th year at 2 p.m. April 23 with Mark Landsman鈥檚 鈥淭hunder Soul鈥� in the Kerr McGee Auditorium of Meinders School of Business. The school is located at N.W. 27th Street and McKinley Avenue.
Admission is free. The series is supported in part by the Thatcher Hoffman Smith Endowment Fund and endowments through 麻豆传媒 City University and the 麻豆传媒 City Community Foundation.
In 鈥淭hunder Soul,鈥� musician and composer Conrad O. Johnson took the job as music director at Houston鈥檚 predominantly black Kashmere High School in the late 1960s. He went on to transform the school鈥檚 struggling jazz band into a full-fledged funk powerhouse. The Kashmere High School Stage Band and their dynamic leader became world renowned, leading to popular recordings and a national title in 1972 鈥� the very same year segregationist Governor George Wallace announced a run for the presidency.
Presented by Jamie Foxx, 鈥淭hunder Soul鈥� follows the band鈥檚 alumni, who returned home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old band leader. A review in the Hollywood Reporter stated: 鈥淎 greater argument for music education in our secondary school curriculum can鈥檛 be made than Mark Landsman鈥檚 doc about a Texas high school funk band that tore up the music scene from 1968 to 1977.鈥�
The theme of this year鈥檚 season is 鈥淲hy Art Matters.鈥� Tracy Floreani, the director of the documentary series at OKCU, said the theme is intended to illuminate the continuing importance of the arts in society, education and human experience.
A discussion session will follow the film screening for those who wish to participate. For more information, visit the Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film & Literature website at
