Max Roach was born on January 10, 1924 in the Township of Newland Pasquotank County, North Carolina. His family moved to Brooklyn New York when he was 4. His mother sang gospel music and by 10 years old Roach was playing the drums with gospel bands. He was influenced by gospel music. At 16, he subbed for Sonny Greer in the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

This performance is from We Insist-The Freedom Now Suite which Roach composed for the 100th anniversary of Abraham Linclon’s Emancipation Proclamation. The lyrics were written by Oscar Brown Jr.