Hugh Masekela, Philharmonic Hall, 1972
Bella Bennett
bellabennett.design
50 Iterations
Grad Studio I
Fall 2020
Fifty iterations of Hugh Masekela, Philharmonic Hall, 1972 by Milton Glaser. The poster set formed the basis for an animation set to Masekela’s 1969 track “Riot”.
Hugh Masekela was a South African-born trumpet player, singer, and composer. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 78. Often titled "the father of South African jazz," Masekela's music and lyricism draw upon his experiences living in apartheid South Africa amidst a tumultuous socio-political climate. His discography of protest songs have never lost their relevance and instill important messages of hope.
It felt appropriate to choose a poster designed by Milton Glaser, who passed away in June of this year. Glaser's original poster design captures Masekela's vibrant energy and colorful stage presence like no other still photograph can.
