Seven Vintage Videos Of Black Celebrities On Sesame Street

Edited by Azizi Powell

Gladys Knight & The Pips "Sesame Street Theme" (1988)


Uploaded by Largo3point0 on Jun 28, 2008

Gladys Knight & The Pips put their spin on the theme song from the long-running children's TV show.

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This post showcases seven vintage videos of Black celebrities on the American children's television show Sesame Street from the 1970s and 1980s.*

I selected these videos because they are some of my favorite Sesame Street celebrity segments. I'm particularly interested in the different genres of music that are showcased in these segments.

With the exception of the first showcased video, these videos are presented in relative chronological order.

My thanks to all the celebrities, other artists/performers, and video producers. My thanks also to these videos uploaders.

This post is presented for its historical, educational, and musical value.

Enjoy!

*Video #7 also features non-Black celebrities.

INFORMATION ABOUT SESAME STREET
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame_Street:
"Sesame Street is an American children's television series created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett. The program is known for its educational content, and creativity communicated through the use of Jim Henson's Muppets, animation, short films, humor, and cultural references. The series premiered on National Educational Television (NET) stations on November 10, 1969 to positive reviews, some controversy, and high ratings."

Click that link for more information about Sesame Street.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1: Gladys Knight & The Pips "Sesame Street Theme"
This video is posted at the top of this page.

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Video #2: Sesame Street: U Really Got A Hold On Me



Uploaded by SesameStreet on Jan 2, 2010

Smokey Robinson sings about the letter 'U'. [1970s]

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Video #3: Sesame Street - Believe in your Self


Uploaded by Justdizzy on Mar 2, 2008

Diana Ross & Big Bird (1979)

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Video #4: Sesame Street - The Pointer Sisters Alphabet Song



Uploaded by wattamack4 on Nov 29, 2007

The Pointer Sisters sing a catchy version of the Alphabet song. (late 1970s)

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Video #5: Patti LaBelle Singing The Alphabet Gospel Style!!



Uploaded by imonkazaa on May 26, 2007
[1980s]?

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Video #6: Celia Cruz on Sesame Street - ZunZun Babae



Uploaded by BuddyBoy600alt on Mar 10, 2010

Big Bird and Celia Cruz sings Cuban Spanish song.

(Originally posted by NantoVision)
Sesame Street © by Children's Television Workshop. (FAIR USE)
[1987]?

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Video #7: Sesame Street - Put Down the Duckie (with epilogue) (1988)


Uploaded by NantoVision1 on Mar 11, 2010
An all star celebrity sing-along from the 1988 prime time PBS pledge drive special. The catchy song was written by Chris Cerf and Norman Stiles. The celebrities, in order of appearance: John Candy (as Yosh Schmenge from SCTV), Andrea Martin (as Edith Prickley from SCTV), New York Mets Keith Hernandez & Mookie Wilson, Jane Curtin (of SNL and Kate & Allie), Madeline Kahn, Joe Williams, Paul Reubens (as Pee Wee Herman), Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Wynton Marsalis, Celia Cruz, Ihtzak Perlman, Gordon Jackson & Jean Marsh (as Angus Hudson and Rose Buck of Upstairs Downstairs), Paul Simon, Jeremy Irons, Pete Seeger, Rhea Perlman and Danny Devito, and NY Giants Sean Landeta, Mark Ingram, Karl Nelson and Carl Banks

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RELATED LINK
http://friedababbley.hubpages.com/hub/Famous-Celebrities-Sing-the-Alphabet-Song "Sesame Street - The Alphabet, Songs, Famous People and Celebrities - YouTube Finds76"

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