Ep. 33: Yolanda Rabun, Howard L. Craft, and Kathryn Hunter-Williams Talk Nina Simone and ‘No Fear Blues Long Gone’ - a podcast by Lauren Van Hemert

Recording artist and actor http://www.yolandarabun.com/ (Yolanda Rabun) considers Nina Simone, a mentor of sorts. Last summer she had the opportunity to sing at the icon’s childhood home in Tryon, North Carolina as the https://savingplaces.org/places/ninasimone?gclid=CjwKCAjw7uPqBRBlEiwAYDsr1wRDy_G0E4zFyAcC08ocxKujbONbWYmU0a-NKq9dL1Aci4z79Od63RoC9SUQAvD_BwE#.XVn4BehKjD5 (National Trust for Historic Preservation) designated it a National Treasure. Before that, she played the role of Nina Simone in a short play Howard L. Craft was commissioned to write by the https://stonecenter.unc.edu/ (Sonja Haynes Stone Center at UNC-Chapel Hill) to accompany an art exhibition. Now Yolanda is reprising her role as Nina Simone in Howard’s one-woman play NO FEAR AND BLUES LONG GONE. This production is being directed by Kathryn Hunter-Williams. Hear what Hunter-Williams, Rabun, and Craft all have to say about the show, the music, and the legacy of the High Priestess of Soul.About the Guests
Yolanda Rabun exploded onto the jazz scene first on Stanley Baird’s 2007 Traffic Jam hit single, “I Want 2 Love You,” and, in 2011, released her debut CD project, “So Real,” on which she co-wrote several songs, including the title song. In 2012, Rabun infused Soul, R&B, Gospel, Folk, Smooth and Traditional Jazz on her sophomore solo album, “Christmastime,” and followed in 2013 with the Adult Contemporary single, “Hold on To Your Dreams.” This rich-voice chanteuse has opened for and sung with such iconic artists as Jennifer Holiday, Howard Hewitt, Ron Isley and the Isley Brothers, R&B singer KEM and the world-renowned iconic drummer, Sheila E. Yolanda has also performed with the NC Opera, the Durham Symphony, and the Raleigh Symphony Free Spirits; she appeared on a number of TV and radio programs. A proud equity-actor, Yolanda has performed on a number of regional theatre stages, including PlayMakers Repertory Company (VIOLET), Theatre Raleigh (BEEHIVE: THE MUSICAL), and North Carolina Theatre (NEWSIES).
Howard L. Craft is the author of two books of poems: Across The Blue Chasm (Big Drum Press 2000) and Raising the Sky (Jacar Press 2016). His poetry also appears in Home is Where: An Anthology of African-American Poets from the Carolinas, edited by Kwame Dawes. His essays have appeared in The Paris Review and have been included in The Routledge Companion to African American Theatre (Routledge Press 2019). He is the author of several plays including, FREIGHT: THE FIVE INCARNATIONS OF ABLE GREEN, a New York Times Critic Pick for March 2015; CALYPSO AND THE MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS, ORANGE LIGHT, and THE JADE CITY CHRONICLES VOLUME I: THE SUPER SPECTACULAR BADASS HERALD M. F. JONES. He is the creator of the first African-American superhero radio serial: The Jade City Pharaoh. 
Kathryn Hunter-Williams PlayMakers’ company member. Recent and highlights include LIFE OF GALILEO, SKELETON CREW, LEAVING EDEN, TARTUFFE and many more. She has also worked with Living Stage, The Negro Ensemble Company, Manhattan Class Company and New Dramatist. Kathryn is currently on the faculty of UNC Dept. of Dramatic Art.
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