Dec. 4, 2024
DocJax welcomes Dr. Kitty Oliver to advisory panel
Dr. Kitty Oliver's amazing life and career(s) are grist for an exciting documentary film.
Growing up in Jacksonville, the daughter of a devoted single mom, she was one of very few African American Beatles fans who attended the group’s storied Jacksonville concert in 1964. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAR5jAHtmSo
The next year she made history as a member of the first integrated class at University of Florida in Gainesville, going on to earn an MFA in creative writing and a doctoral degree in comparative studies. After her education she became an esteemed professor, journalist, author and singer as well a documentary filmmaker herself—hence she brings a wealth of crucial knowledge to our organization and its mission.
In 2016, with the release of Ron Howard's Beatles documentary, she was brought to London and honored by none other than Sir Paul McCartney. More recently, in September 2024, Oliver made an appearance at Jacksonville's Ritz Theatreas part of the 60th-anniversary celebration—sponsored in part by DocJax—of the Beatles' Gator Bowl show.
Oliver is the author of three books including her memoir, Multicolored Memories of a Black Southern Girl (U of Kentucky Press); in addition she has compiled the Race and Change Oral History Archive, located at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center. Oliver continues to give lectures, presentations and workshops.
Check out Kitty Oliver’s website at https://kittyoliveronline.com
Nov 21, 2024
Michael Ray FitzGerald, PhD, and Sharon Y. Cobb, WGA screenwriter, discuss the upcoming DocJax series Cowford Chronicles on First Coast Connect with Anne Schindler on WJCT-FM.
Letter re: Cowford Chronicles pilot from Jacksonville Daily Record staff writer and former Florida Times-Union music writer Dan Macdonald:
This is a PBS-quality documentary. The editing, the shortcut interviews and the use of music is captivating. I don’t have to be from Jacksonville to want to watch this. Ed Cotton demonstrating the picking style was a treasure and shows why what was going on at that time was so important.
I like the variety of historians who speak on various topics.
The clip shows that Jacksonville laid the foundation for musical careers. They didn’t have to make it here. They were made here.
You may want to spend a minute explaining Jacksonville's city limits during the years. I always thought LaVilla was part of downtown, not considered a suburb or separate neighborhood. I learned something.
I’m confident the documentary will showcase how downtown was a hub of activity, commerce and entertainment at one time. It may give new generations hope that it can be rebuilt to again become an active and attractive Downtown.
Please continue to shine a light on the many contributions of the city’s black population.
Nice work. Thank you for the preview. Keep them coming.
Dan Macdonald
1964: When the Beatles Rocked Florida
We are extremely pleased to participate as co-sponsors of the upcoming 60th-anniversary celebration of the Beatles' 1964 Gator Bowl performance. The Fab Four's historic appearance changed the course of the music business, especially for musicians in Jacksonville.
The event will be held on Sept 12 at the Ritz Theatre. You can register HERE: 1964: When the Beatles Rocked Florida | Florida Humanities
Ray Charles Place
West Church Street next to LaVilla School of the Arts
After reading Ray Charles’ autobiography Brother Ray—in which Charles mentions having lived at 752 West Church Street in LaVilla—DocJax founder and president Michael Ray FitzGerald came up with had the idea of naming a Downtown street after the much-beloved entertainer. Then known as R.C. Robinson, Charles began his professional music career here at age 15 after leaving the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine.
After a year of scuffling in Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa, however, the man we now know as Ray Charles headed out for the West Coast, where he slowly—but very steadily—climbed the ladder of worldwide success and fame.
FitzGerald first took the idea of naming a street after Charles to a city council member in the early 2000s but got no response. Twenty years later he mentioned the idea to City Film Commissioner Todd Roobin, who approached council members Jimmy Peluso and Rahman Johnson, who in turn sponsored a bill and finally made it happen.
“Being a huge fan of Ray Charles’ since was 10,” FitzGerald says, “I felt I owed him this.”
This wonderful event—which will be commemorated with a historic marker—directly ties in with DocJax’s upcoming debut of its series Cowford Chronicles: The Music, which begins in the LaVilla township with such famous names as Pat Chappelle, brothers James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson, Eartha White, Ma Rainey, Blind Blake, Billy Daniels and Charles, whose first gig reportedly occurred at Manuels’ Tap Room on Ashley Street.
June 21, 2024
DocJax Heavy-Hitter Award
To Ron Chamblin of Chamblin Bookmine
We would like to thank Ron Chamblin of Chamblin Bookmine for coming aboard as our very first sponsor. You knocked it out of the park, bud!
