"Thunder Soul"

Thunder Soul : Documentary on Conrad O. Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band from Houston, Tx.

This documentary starts off by bringing back the Kashmere High School Stage Band, nearly 30 years after last performing together; for a benefit show that contained 25-30 of it's original members. At a time when most stage bands were playing Jazz, Conrad (Prof) had his students playing a lot of Funk pieces. In fact, Prof (their high school band director) wrote over 50 tunes and arrangements for his band to play. This school and community were predominantly black, and Prof was a positive, African-American, male role model for many of his students. Prof saved many of his students by teaching them how to be musicians. He taught them community, respect, pride, as well as the technical musical skills and disciplines that clearly followed them through life. Prof believed that if he could get his students to see that they could play and sound like good, quality musicians, that they would prosper; and they did.

Conrad was a musician first, but he fell in love with a woman named Bertie, and they soon after started a family. Conrad decided to be a family man, stay at home and help raise his family rather than be a traveling musician. He became a high school band director instead, where he earned the nickname, "Prof". Prof's family was also family to his students. He was married 52 years to his wife, "Momma Bertie" as his students referred to her. About 10 years before the making of this film, Bertie passed away.

Prof got his band from just being able to play the music, to being able to perform the music, he made them into a stage band. Prof got his students to play funk at a time when most bands were playing jazz. He listened to his students and found their strengths and personal styles were in the 'funk' realm; and because of his skills as a musician (and composer), Prof was able to write arrangements and pieces for his students that both challenged them and drew them in.

The Kashmere Stage Band traveled to different cities and towns, as well as to Europe. They also were able to record their own albums (which were predominantly popular to people who were middle-aged and white). These students and the school did not have a lot of funding to go on all these trips to perform and compete, so they got the community involved. The students rallied together, brought pride and tradition to their community, and were able to collect necessary funds for these competitions. When the Kashmere Stage Band was able to go to the Reno Jazz Festival to compete (largely in part to the community support), they had an opportunity to be on the radio and on television, and also not only recorded, but released their music.

It wasn't until the Kashmere High School had a new principal hired; one who did not fully comprehend all the positives and educating Prof had given to his students over the years. Without the backing of Prof's administration, and their push for him to retire, along with the funding they had lost, Prof opted to retire. The administration had also disrespected Prof not just to him, but in front of his student population, which is never acceptable in any situation. Arts should never be cut from spending, or thought little of. Athletics are important, but there's a certain age when the individuals body is no longer able to perform at the necessary level. Prof was in his 80'd and still playing that saxophone with such a natural grace, as if it were effortless. His students also proved that music carries with them, so long as they had the opportunity to build the necessary foundation. Some of those former students of his hadn't touched their instrument since leaving High School, but they were able to get the ball rolling again with some hard work and practice.

Prof's former student, Craig Baldwin ran the benefit show. He carried on Prof's legacy and emotion, in part to show Prof that all his years of hard work really stuck with his students, that what he did was for them and they would always be eternally grateful to him. Prof saved many of his students by giving them a place where they belonged, where they were a part of something great. He opened doors for his students and showed them what they were capable of, so long as they were willing to work for it. These individuals developed musicianship, technical musical skills, theory, composing, improvisation, they moved, felt the beats, sung, hit all the music standards and then some.

Another reason that this benefit show was put into place was to show the current Kashmere Stage Band what they could accomplish if they put their minds to it. It also showed them the legacy they should strive to live up to. When the final performance was done, it was so uplifting to see the current students literally jump out of their seats, flabbergasted at the show put on before their eyes. You knew some of those students ( before the show) just thought it was a bunch of 'old people' trying to relive their youth. But by the end of that performance, every member of that audience was in awe. Prof had tears in his eyes, you could tell he felt nothing but pride and gratitude. Prof was a true educator, up until his last breath. Prof had what it took to be an educator, and the lives of his students and the community were forever changed for the better because of his existence.