Summary(2:37) Impact of the pandemic -- (2:49) Became very sick with COVID-19 -- (5:41) Career affected: musical tours cancelled until end of year. Switched to virtual performing -- (7:05) Community impacts. Lost five friends -- (7:55) Supported by faith, sense of purpose -- (8:48) Support from partner, family and friends, Stanley Banks -- (10:00) Difficulty getting supplies -- (10:46) Granddaughter had virus -- (12:00) Helping his community through music -- (12:00) Hopes to perform for libraries -- (14:32) Impact on grandsons, fear and loss -- (16:20) Difficulties of remote learning and lack of social contact -- (17:14) Keeping in touch with extended family, virtual reunions -- (18:44) Summer travel plans disrupted -- (19:22) Coping strategies: improvising, helping others -- (22:26) Going out with caution, does not assume immunity -- (24:27) Wearing Corona beard -- (25:08) Misses going out, playing music with others, socializing -- (27:40) Shopping habits -- (29:19) Thoughts about the future. Social unrest. Hopes for social unity -- (33:20) New songs: “Mo justice, mo peace” (2016); Mo spacing, mo peace (2020). Website: www.lablacksmith.com -- (35:00) Recent concert for Brower Park Library in Brooklyn -- (37:05) Musicians’ role in pandemic.
NoteAudio interview conducted on July 14, 2020, by Tom Brogan. Collected for the Covid-19 Oral History Project through Our Streets, Our Stories, an oral history project of Brooklyn Public Library. This project is a partnership with Services for Older Adults and the Brooklyn Collection.
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TitleOral history interview with L.A. Blacksmith conducted on 2020 July 14.