Magnificent Montague Burn, Baby! Burn!

Magnificent Montague What Is Soul


It is International Book Day and my selection is Magnificent Montague's autobiography. I picked up on this after a post on Brown-Eyed Handsome Man blog.

Magnificent Montague was the charismatic voice of soul music on the radio in the late 50's and 60's. He was much more than a DJ and became a voice for the black community reflecting their concerns. Most people recall Montague for his radio show slogan "Burn Baby Burn" which was seized on by people of the Watts when they rose up in rebellion in 1965.

His autiobiography tells of the tumultous times in the 60's and the people he met and worked with including Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, James Brown etc.

The book also tells of how Montague has amassed a treasure trove of artefacts of African-American life and arts which is a unique source of black achievement.

By coincidence, an e-friend Phil Milstein has just sent me a collection of tracks featuring Montague anmd I have featured his Minit 45 "This Is Soul" which reminds me of Jack Kerouac!