2021 Exhibition
39. The Scene
Mask Required In Line and on Dance Floor (Regardless of Vaccination Status). Social Distancing Encouraged.
Artist Information
“The Scene with Nat Morris and Friends” will feature a large open-air dance floor in Circle Park (near Beacon Park), along with DJs, dancers, and other local talent. In partnership with WDET 101.9FM, this installation will pay homage to The Scene and Detroit’s legendary music history with programming from 7PM to midnight each night of the festival.
DLECTRICITY is partnering with Nat Morris, executive producer and host of Detroit’s historic daily dance show, “The Scene,” that aired on WGPR TV 62 from October 13, 1975 to December 31, 1987, to create a special dance and music installation for the 2021 festival. WDET’s Chris Campbell will also help emcee this tribute to The Scene.
WGPR was the first African American owned and operated television station licensed by the FCC in The United States. The Scene was perhaps the most popular local show to be broadcast on the station and would unwittingly end up giving birth to an entire generation of dance music and influence millions globally in the process.
Visit the Artwork on our map here: https://dlectricity.com/map/#39.
REGISTER FOR THE SCENE’S LONGEST DANCE LINE:
Each hour will feature different hustles and DJs, including Ron OJ, Tony Peoples, Hump the Grinder, DJ Mr. Entertainment, Gary Chandler, and other special guests!
But at 8:00 p.m. each night, that’s when The Scene attempts to make Detroit’s longest dance line ever with music by Hump the Grinder! Registration is required for this segment of The Scene each evening. Registrants are encouraged to arrive early and check in at “The Scene” tent near the stage to receive instructions from staff in how to line up around the dance floor for this historic dance line.
Each couple or individual will have no more than ’30 seconds to shine’ while dancing down the line in order to accommodate all the dancers participating in this segment. Registration is limited to 250 couples and/or individuals who would like to participate each evening.
PLEASE NOTE: The Longest Dance Line is scheduled for the 8:00-9:00 p.m. hour, with potential spillover in the 9:00 p.m. hour. Registration is not required to dance at The Scene in the other hours of the program.
The Scene at DLECTRICITY will be live-streamed online and also will be aired on a large LED screen in the DLECTRICITY Cultural Center footprint during festival hours.
Nat Morris
Nat Morris' radio career began in 1970 when he got his first job on radio at WTOY in Roanoke, VA. In 1972, Nat became a member of the DETROIT RADIO VIOCES when fellow Carolinian Ray Henderson recommended Nat to George White, then program director at WGPR-FM, in Detroit Michigan.
In 1975, Nat’s radio show led to him being selected to co-host the television show The Scene along with Ray Henderson on WGPR-TV. In 1976 Nat became the sole host of the show when Ray Henderson left the show.
The Scene was on the air for 12 years from 1975 to 1987 and was perhaps the most popular local show to be broadcast on the station. The Scene and Nat Morris are immortalized in several books that document the history of local Detroit television including; From Soupy to Nuts by Tim Kiska, 2005 – Momentum Books and TV Land- Detroit by Gordon Castelnero, 2006 – University of Michigan Press.
In 1988 after The Scene, Nat returned to North Carolina and radio where he became Program director for WCLY in Raleigh. While in Carolina, Nat owned and operated The Klubb nightclub in Durham with his daughter, Natosha Morris.
In 1991 Nat returned to Detroit and began to work in independent television with his friend whom he had mentored; R. J. Watkins who was doing a television dance show on WGPR-TV. In 1995 after WGPR-TV was sold, Nat began to air re-runs of The Scene on the then Barden Cable leased access channel under a video production company named after his popular show The Scene. Nat also produced a music video show on the channel called Video Go Go. Video Go Go aired until 2006 and helped to popularized leased access television in Detroit.
Nat Morris YouTube Channel
Chris Campbell
Chris Campbell is a music journalist, DJ and nationally-renowned tastemaker. As host of the Progressive Underground, he takes listeners on a multi-genre musical odyssey by way of creative hand-curated playlists, exclusive artist interviews and atmospheric style mixes.
He has written for publications such as Upscale, Smooth Jazz News, Soul Interviews and The Examiner. His books “The Essential Neo Soul” and “Neo Soul 2.0” spotlight the progressive soul music movement and are the only publications to cover its history. Campbell is also a correspondent for NPR curating global underground music for segments such as “Heavy Rotation” and “Songs We Love.”
www.wdet.org