The Saga Of Charlie Haden's Soundtrack To Richard Pryor's Jojo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, And Other Doomed Projects (Financial Paperwork From A Box, Pt. 3)
On June 9, 1980, Richard Pryor set his hair on fire. He ran down Parthenia Street, somebody tackled him, put out the flames. I was 12 years old. Richard Pryor was the comedian who swore a lot. My friends and I loved him.
Five years later, Richard Pryor was working on his autobiographical film and feature directorial debut. He was watching TV news one evening after work and happened upon an interview segment between my father and CBS sports anchor and jazz fan Roy Firestone. The piece portrayed my dad as a famous jazz cat struggling with, and overcoming, drug addiction, in order to make better music and improve life for himself and his family.
The next day, Charlie received a phone call. Mr. Pryor introduced himself. He identified with my father’s struggles. He was making a movie about those very same inner conflicts. He asked if Charlie might want to create the soundtrack.
A price was negotiated. A contract was signed. Charlie composed the music. Studio time, musicians, string orchestra, and choir were booked. My father’s score for Jojo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling was beautiful. He played me bits and pieces from a cassette tape. I was 17 years old.
One day, Charlie needed to meet with Mr. Pryor at his Columbia Pictures office and brought me with him. I shook Richard’s hand. I was also introduced to a smiling, effervescent young woman. On the way home, I mentioned that Mr. Pryor’s daughter was pretty. That wasn’t Richard’s daughter, said my dad, that was his wife!
Charlie had some money now. He bought us a brand new television set.
I’m not sure who broke the news to him. Sometime after he turned in the final mix and before post-production was complete, the studio execs decided they wouldn’t use Charlie’s music after all. As it was related to me by my father, the Columbia chiefs told him that, since Jojo Dancer was “an African American film”, the composer should be African American. This change was made over the objections of Mr. Pryor.
My father didn’t seem to mind. He was $40,000 richer (around $115,000 in today’s money). The film was released on May 2, 1986. Herbie Hancock composed the score.
I hope I someday find the cassette with my father’s Jojo Dancer compositions.
Below are papers relating to my father’s work on the film. Also posted are documents relating to other Charlie projects, both cinematic and otherwise, that didn’t, for whatever reasons, work out.
These documents were found in a box of paperwork from the firm that provided Charlie with legal services for decades. Please consider supporting the preservation of Charlie’s estate, as well as the writing of my book, by subscribing to this substack. Solid, Jackson. Thanks for reading.
All material © 2024 Josh Haden, Estate of Charlie Haden, except those owned by respective copyright holders.
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