American Masters

History Series / 11 Seasons

American Masters, committed to producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.

1h 51m / TV-14

The nomadic life of an opera singer

2m 38s

J'Nai Bridges meets with the Young Artists of Washington National Opera to talk about the pros, the cons and some of the loneliness surrounding life as an opera singer. "Opera singers are truly nomads," said J'Nai.

The history of Black artists in country music

2m 20s

Black musicians have always had a place in the history of country music, despite the music industry's push to label white folk music as hillbilly music, and Black folk music as "race records." "Black people that have succeeded in this industry succeeded in spite of that," said Andrea Williams, author and journalist.

In The Making

3m 53s

Follow two performers as they break down barriers in music. Opera singer J’Nai Bridges takes the stage in “A Knee on the Neck,” a choral tribute to George Floyd. Country artist Rissi Palmer redefines success as she works on her latest album, while uplifting other artists of color in the Americana genres.

Dr. Fauci on retiring

2m 2s

Dr. Anthony Fauci sits down with his wife, Dr. Christine Grady, to discuss retiring from his positions as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor to the president.

Dr. Fauci visits D.C. to battle vaccine hesistancy

7m 2s

Dr. Fauci and Muriel Bowser, mayor of D.C., visit the neighborhood of Anacostia and go door-to-door, encouraging residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and combating vaccine hesistancy.

How Dr. Fauci handled the AIDS crisis

4m 34s

Dr. Fauci's response to the AIDS crisis in the 1980s was first widely criticized by LGBTQIA+ activists. "We wanted treatment because we were sick ... And that's what led us to you," said AIDS activist David Barr. However, in later years he became a widely respected ally, eventually developing lifelong friendships with the activists.

Dr. Tony Fauci

2m 18s

Follow Dr. Anthony Fauci as he grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and his 50-year career as the nation’s leading public health advocate. American Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci reveals a rarely seen side of the physician, husband and father as he confronts political backlash, a new administration and questions of the future.

Brooke Pepion Swaney on working with actress Lily Gladstone

3m 50s

In this behind the scenes look, director Brooke Pepion Swaney sat down with American Masters to reflect on the experience and the unique privilege of working with Gladstone on this documentary before the anticipated flurry of media attention surrounding her role in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers Of The Flower Moon.”

In The Making: Season 2

1m 18s

This documentary shorts series from American Masters and Firelight Media follows emerging cultural icons – creators who bring insight and originality to their craft – on their journeys to becoming masters of their artistic disciplines.

Roberta Flack

35s

American Masters: Roberta Flack follows the music icon from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own words, the film features exclusive access to Flack’s archives and interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Peabo Bryson and more.

Clint Eastwood loved "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

2m 42s

When Clint Eastwood first heard "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," he found himself "driving off the side of the freeway," according to Roberta Flack. Enamored with the song, the director used it in a pivotal moment in his film "Play Misty for Me," and it subsequently gained new fame.

How Roberta Flack created soul with "getting-togetherness"

2m 43s

Songwriter Les McCann described seeing Roberta Flack perform with all of that "getting-togetherness," referencing the soulful and central quality of Black music. "The concept of soul was really this attempt to recreate what was particular about being Black in America. This experience of struggle and resilience and pride," said author and cultural critic Emily Lordi.

The origin of Flack's hit "Killing Me Softly With His Song"

2m 27s

Roberta Flack discovered Lori Lieberman's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" on a plane from L.A. to New York, and made it her own. "I was not limited to just taking the song off of the page of music," said Flack. After seeing the crowd reaction to her cover of the song while on tour with Quincy Jones, Jones convinced her to record it.

Roberta Flack was a child piano prodigy

2m 9s

Growing up, Roberta Flack was known as a musical prodigy who "could play anything" on the piano. She grew up in the church, where her mother was an organist, and started studying classical piano repertoire at just nine years old.

Groucho & Cavett

1m 44s

Discover the enduring friendship between television personality Dick Cavett and his mentor iconic comedian Groucho Marx. Their relationship is chronicled through interviews with Cavett, archival footage and interviews with George Burns and others.

Groucho Marx roasts Dick Cavett

2m 1s

ABC aired "The Dick Cavett Show" three times a week during primetime, considered an unusual schedule at the time. "In fact, when Groucho came on, he said, 'You know you need a secretary to know when this show is on,'" said Cavett.

What made Groucho Marx a great writer

3m 7s

Groucho was a prolific writer with "a genuine intellect," according to Cavett, despite not finishing public school. His proudest achievement was having a book of his letters published at the Library of Congress.

Dick Cavett's early days of standup comedy

8m 17s

When Dick Cavett first started doing standup, he quickly learned that performing comedy yourself and writing comedy for another person are two very different ventures. In this outtake from "Groucho & Cavett," Cavett reflects on the trial and error in his early days of standup and the lessons he learned along the way.

When Groucho Marx hosted "The Tonight Show"

2m 9s

After Jack Paar left and before Johnny Carson replaced him, "The Tonight Show" had a fleet of guest hosts, including Groucho Marx, who brought on Dick Cavett as one of his writers. "I wondered if he would use anything I wrote," said Cavett of that time.

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