The Rev. Jesse Jackson (left) and Issac Hayes
August 20, 1972: Stax Records, based in Memphis, hosts a benefit concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, to benefit the black community of Los Angeles, centered around the South Central neighborhood of Watts. It is publicized as "Wattstax."
All seats were reserved and priced at only$1.00 each, as Stax wanted to make it possible for anyone to attend. Pre-sales were quite successful, easing concerns about the financial viability of the concert. The crowd was estimated at over 112,000, counting on-field seating.
Dale Warren, the main arranger for Stax Records, began the show at 2:38 PM Pacific Time (5:38 U.S. Eastern), with a composition titled "Salvation Symphony." Kim Weston, formerly of Motown Records, sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The Rev. Jesse Jackson gave an invocation, and included a poem, written in 1950, by the Rev. William Holmes Borders, Sr. He paused to allow the crowd to chant, "I am... Somebody!" along with him. "I may be poor... young... on welfare... small... I may have made mistakes... My clothes... my face... my hair is different, but I am Somebody! I am black, brown,or white. I speak a different language. But I must be respected, protected, never rejected. I am God’s child!"
Having sung the actual National Anthem, Weston then sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," by James Weldon Johnson, known as "The Black National Anthem." The Staple Singers were the first act. Deborah Manning sang the hymn "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." A few other performers took the stage, leading up to Eddie Floyd singing his 1966 hit "Knock On Wood."
David Porter, who wrote several Stax classics with Isaac Hayes, sang "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)," written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson as the 1st solo hit for Diana Ross. The Bar-Kays, the reconstituted band of ill-fated Stax singer Otis Redding, played. Carla Thomas, daughter of disc jockey and soul singer Rufus Thomas, and duet partner of Redding's, sang. Blues guitarist Albert King followed her, and he was followed by Rufus Thomas. Luther Ingram sang his current hit "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right."
As darkness fell, Hayes came on to close the show. It was his 30th birthday. Stripped to the waist, but draped with chains, as he was when he performed it at the Academy Awards, he performed the theme from the film Shaft. It was the highlight of the show. He followed it with "Soulsville," and "Never Can Say Goodbye," written by minister-actor Clifton Davis, already a hit for The Jackson 5, and later a disco hit for Gloria Gaynor.
Months after the festival, Stax released a double LP of the concert's highlights, Wattstax: The Living Word. The concert was filmed by David L. Wolper's film crew, and was made into the 1973 film titled Wattstax, directed by Mel Stuart. Between the show and the subsequent album and film, It was as close to a "black Woodstock" as the world was going to get.
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August 20, 1972 was a Sunday. These Major League Baseball games were played:
* The New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers, 2-0 at Arlington Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, Texas. Bobby Murcer grounded into a fielder's choice in the top of the 10th inning, scoring relief pitcher Sparky Lyle with the winning run. Between them, Rob Gardner and Lyle allowed 6 hits over a 10-inning shutout.
* The New York Mets lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 8-1 at Shea Stadium. Pete Rose went 3-for-5 with a walk and 2 RBIs. Johnny Bench did not play. Willie Mays did, going 1-for-3.
* The Montreal Expos beat the Atlanta Braves, 1-0 at Jarry Park in Montreal. Bill Stoneman pitched a 2-hit shutout. Hank Aaron went 0-for-3 with a walk.
* The Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-1 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
* The Minnesota Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-1 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Harmon Killebrew did not play. Rod Carew went 1-for-5. Brooks Robinson went 1-for-4.
* The Cleveland Indians beat the Oakland Athletics, 3-1 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Reggie Jackson did not play.
* The Detroit Tigers beat the California Angels, 11-9 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Al Kaline went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
* A doubleheader was split at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Chicago White Sox won the opener, 9-7. The Boston Red Sox won the nightcap, 5-4. Carl Yastrzemski did not play in the opener, but went 1-for-4 with 3 RBIs in the nightcap.
* The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals, 2-1 at Kansas City Municipal Stadium.
* The Pittsburgh Pirates swept a doubleheader from the San Diego Padres, 9-3 and 5-2 at San Diego Stadium (later Jack Murphy Stadium and Qualcomm Stadium). Roberto Clemente did not play in either game. Willie Stargell went 3-for-7 with a walk and 3 RBIs.
* The Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In his only season with the Dodgers, Frank Robinson did not play.
* And the San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
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