American Masters, Little Richard: The King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Feb. 2, at 9 PM

Saturday, Feb. 3, at 2 AM

A fearless pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll who broke the color barrier in the 1950s with hits like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally,” Little Richard defined a genre and inspired generations by defying societal expectations. Charting the meteoric rise of the artist who counted the Beatles and the Rolling Stones as his opening acts, this film provides an intimate exploration of the renowned, electrifying and multifaceted individual.

Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Friday, Feb. 2, at 9 PM

Discover how the advent of the automobile brought new freedoms and new perils for African Americans on the road in this deep look into the dynamics of race, space and mobility in America over time.

Training for Freedom

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Saturday, Feb. 3, at 10 PM

Saturday, Feb. 17, at 6 PM

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Monday, Feb. 12, at 9:30 PM

Saturday, Feb. 17, at 4 PM

In 1890, Mississippi had 190,000 registered Black voters. By 1966, that number was reduced to 2,000 due to a complicated voter registration process. This documentary is the transformational story of how idealistic college students and Black activist teachers came together in Oxford, Ohio, to fight as one in the freedom struggle that would define a nation and alter the course of history.

Let’s Have Some Church Detroit Style

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Feb. 4, at 10 PM

Thursday, Feb. 8, at 8 PM

Set in the challenging environment of a Rust Belt metropolis, Let's Have Some Church Detroit Style introduces 25 men and women singing in an all-star community choir. In this film filled with glorious music, The Hallelujah Singers and their charismatic director, Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver, show us that wealth is not always counted in dollars and cents in a city recovering from bankruptcy.

American Experience, Goin’ Back to T-Town

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Monday, Feb. 5, at 8 PM

Revisit Greenwood, a Black community in Tulsa, Okla. Torn apart in 1921 by a racially motivated massacre, the neighborhood rose again but could not survive integration and urban renewal — a bittersweet portrait of small-town life told by those who lived it.

Finding Your Roots

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesdays at 8 PM

Wednesdays at 1 AM

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Thursdays at 7 PM

Join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to uncover the surprising ancestral stories of 28 cultural trailblazers with fascinating histories. The series ends with an exploration of how science and history can inspire the next generation.

American Masters, How It Feels to be Free

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 9 PM

Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 2 AM

Explore the lives and trailblazing careers of iconic African American entertainers Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier, who changed American culture through their films, fashion, music and politics.

Beyond the Baton: A Conductor’s Journey

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Thursday, Feb. 8, at 10 PM

Friday, Feb. 9, at 3 AM

Born to a single mother on welfare, Thomas Wilkins grew up to become one of the few remarkable African American conductors leading a major orchestra — the celebrated Omaha Symphony. This hour-long film documents Wilkins' experience as a Black conductor and his larger impact on the musical world.

Gospel Live! Presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Feb. 9, at 9 PM

Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2 AM

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Feb. 11, at 10 PM

Thursday, Feb. 15, at 8 PM

This concert celebration honors the legacy of gospel music in America. In this companion program to GOSPEL — which premieres on Monday, Feb. 12, at 9 PM — secular and gospel artists sing their favorite gospel classics. The program features performances by Erica Campbell, John Legend, Mali Music and more.

Bird: Not Out of Nowhere

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Feb. 9, at 10 PM

Saturday, Feb. 10, at 3 AM

As the world celebrates the centennial of Charlie "Bird" Parker's birth, this film looks back at the twenty-one years Charlie spent at home in Kansas City and on his long-lasting impression on Kansas City jazz.

Muhammad Ali

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Saturdays, Feb. 10 to March 3, at 7 PM

A portrait of one of the best-known and most indelible figures of the 20th century, a three-time heavyweight boxing champion who insisted on being himself unconditionally and became a global icon and inspiration to people everywhere.

American Masters, James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Saturday, Feb. 10, at 9:30 PM

Using rarely seen archival footage from nine different countries, this film melds intimate interviews and eloquent public speeches with cinema verité glimpses of Baldwin and original scenes from his extraordinary funeral service in December 1987.

I Go to the Rock: Gospel Songs of Whitney Houston

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Sunday, Feb. 11, at 9 AM

The unmistakable voice of Whitney Houston is powerful and timeless. She became one of the most accomplished recording artists of all time, but her heart was always in gospel music. Join host CeCe Winans and discover Houston's deep faith and love of gospel music.

Freedom Songs: The Music of the Civil Rights Movement

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Sunday, Feb. 11, at 10:30 AM

For a moment in time, a few daring, innovative musicians stood at the crossroads of a revolution in music and culture. Across one of the most turbulent periods in American history — from the early civil rights era to Watergate — they brought music, medium and message together as never before, composing a soundtrack perfectly tuned to the tempo and pulse of its time. They were America's rhythm rebels, and the spirit of what they created then lives on today. 

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Sunday, Feb. 11, at noon & 3 PM

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Saturday, Feb. 17, at 9 PM

Saturday, Feb. 24, at 9 PM

Historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., retraces the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America. The moving four-hour, two-part series explores the church’s role as the site of African American organizing, resilience, autonomy, freedom and solidarity.

Wes Bound: The Genius of Wes Montgomery

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Feb. 11, at 4 PM

Discover the story of a legendary jazz guitarist and composer from Indiana. Wes Montgomery was born in Indianapolis on March 6, 1923, and rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time.

Black Broadway: A Proud History, A Limitless Future

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Sunday, Feb. 11, at 6 PM

Monday, Feb. 12, at 4 AM

Join an all-star cast performing songs from the hit musicals “Dreamgirls,” “The Color Purple,” “Porgy and Bess” and many more to celebrate the rich history and evolution of Black roles and voices on Broadway. Weaving the history, prominence and hopes for the future through music, the cast is led by Stephanie Mills, Norm Lewis, Corbin Bleu and more.

American Masters, Ailey

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Monday, Feb. 12, at 8 PM

Saturday, Feb. 24, at 1:30 PM

Discover the legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey, whose dances center on the Black American experience with grace, strength and beauty. Features previously unheard audio interviews with Ailey, interviews with those close to him and an intimate glimpse into the Ailey studios today.

Gospel

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Monday, Feb. 12, and Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 9 PM

Tuesday, Feb. 13, and Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 2 AM

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Saturday, Feb. 17, at noon & 2 PM

Sunday, Feb. 25, at 4 PM & 6 PM

This new four-hour docuseries explores the rich history of Black spirituality through sermon and song. It reunites acclaimed Harvard scholar and documentarian Henry Louis Gates Jr. with directors Stacey L. Holman and Shayla Harris. From the blues to hip-hop, African Americans have been the driving force of sonic innovation for over a century. Musical styles come and go, but gospel is one sound that has been a constant source of strength, courage and wisdom from the pulpit to the choir lofts on any given Sunday. 

Independent Lens, Mr. Soul!

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Monday, Feb. 12, at 10 PM

Celebrate the public television variety show that shared Black culture with the nation. Ellis Haizlip developed SOUL! in 1968 as one of the first platforms to promote the vibrancy of the Black arts movement. Its impact continues to this day.

Secrets of the Dead, The Woman in the Iron Coffin

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 10 PM

Thursday, Feb. 15, at 3 AM

Monday, Feb. 19, at 5 PM

Follow a team of forensic experts as they investigate the preserved remains of a young African American woman from 19th century New York and reveal the little-known story of early America’s free Black communities.

Great Performances, The Magic of Spirituals

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 PM

Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 9:30 PM

This documentary examines the behind-the-scenes story of Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman’s famed concert of spirituals at Carnegie Hall on March 18, 1990, with extensive performance clips and new interviews with opera star Angel Blue, Met Opera General Manager Peter Gelb and more.

Awadagin Pratt: Black in America

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 PM

Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 10:30 PM

You are never too famous to escape racism and racial profiling. Awadagin Pratt is a renowned concert pianist, composer and violinist. This documentary confronts issues of privilege and racism in America and tells a personal account of an all-too-common experience for many people of color in America and worldwide.

Wham Re-Bop-Boom-Bam: The Swing Jazz of Eddie Durham

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Friday, Feb. 23, at 8 PM

Eddie Durham heard music differently and he played it differently, too. Carrying rural Southwest blues influences with him from his hometown of San Marcos, Texas, Durham became a leading architect of the Kansas City swing jazz sound in the 1920s and '30s. Through interviews with family, friends and devoted fellow musicians of all ages, this program follows the musical journey of this often-overlooked musical genius.

Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers Jazz a Vienne

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10:30 PM

Immerse yourself in the concert by Chic and Nile Rodgers at the Jazz a Vienne music festival in France, as they perform a selection of Nile Rodgers-produced songs by Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, Duran Duran and Sister Sledge. They perform their hits including “Everybody Dance,” “Le Freak,” “Good Times” and many more.

A Symphony Celebration: The Blind Boys of Alabama with Dr. Henry Panion, III

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 PM

This program features the five-time Grammy-winning Blind Boys of Alabama with conductor Dr. Henry Panion III and a full symphony orchestra. Focusing on messages of humanity, peace and love, the program includes compelling, story-driven vignettes about the artists and their songs. The performance features a combined choir from Alabama's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Independent Lens, Chasing Train: The John Coltrane Documentary

FUSION (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Monday, Feb. 26, at 10 PM

Saturday, March 2, at noon

John Coltrane was an outside-the-box thinker whose boundary-shattering music continues to impact and influence people around the world. This portrait of the remarkable jazz artist reveals the critical events, passions, experiences and challenges that shaped his life and revolutionary sounds.