Tuskegee Airman Harold Brown's life celebrated in new jazz narrative

LAKESIDE — Harold Brown has lived an extraordinary life.

One of World War II's famed Tuskegee Airmen, Brown combined his storied military service with a pioneering career in Ohio's community college system.

Michael Shirtz has been friends with Brown, 97, and Marsha Bordner, Brown's wife and retired Terra State Community College president, for nearly two decades.

Shirtz, a well-known musician, composer and conductor of the Symphony Chorale with the Firelands Symphony, got the inspiration in 2021 to write "To Rise Above," a five-part jazz narrative about Brown's life based on the book, “Keep Your Airspeed Up: The Story of a Tuskegee Airman,” co-authored by Brown and Bordner.

"I just felt it was appropriate to give back to him," Shirtz said Wednesday of his musical project.

"To Rise Above" will be performed live next Thursday, June 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Lakeside's Hoover Auditorium.

A story about making dreams come true

Using the elements of jazz, Brown's journey is told by actor William Barrett, singer Sadiyah Babatunde and the Michael Shirtz Quartet, accompanied by strings and a chorus of singers led by musical director Van Parker, according to Shirtz.

Shirtz said he wanted, through "To Rise Above's" narrative, to tell stories about overcoming adversity and making dreams come true, two central themes in Brown's life.

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Brown was a Tuskegee Airman, a member of a select group of African-American fighter pilots who broke down barriers and played a significant role in President Harry S. Truman's decision to desegregate the Armed Forces in 1948 (the Air Force became integrated in 1949).

With the Tuskegee Airmen, Brown was a member of the 332nd Fighter Group, one of six fighter groups that escorted bombers into Germany, Austria and southern Europe during World War II. The airmen flew P51C Mustangs painted with bright red tails.

Brown's first combat mission took place June 6, 1944.

He flew 30 missions protecting bombers on raids over several European cities, including Munich.

Tuskegee Airmen received Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen as a group on March 29, 2007. Brown was there to receive the honor with other Tuskegee colleagues.

Shirtz said his friendship with Brown has involved a lot of story sharing.

"I would share music stories. He would share aviation stories," Shirtz said.

Brown's persistence in setting goals and achieving them, even in adverse circumstances, has been a recurring theme in his life and something worth sharing with all generations, Shirtz said.

When Shirtz began discussing his idea for a jazz narrative with Brown, the musician said his longtime friend seemed excited and had questions.

"He was very interested in how it came together," Shirtz said.

Shirtz said Brown and Bordner read through his narrative script and gave their blessing to the project.

The five movements in Shirtz's jazz narrative are titled "The Dream," "The Struggle," "The Mission," "The Man" and "The Dream Lives On."

From childhood to postwar career

Through those first four movements, Brown's life is explored from his childhood through his war experiences as a Tuskegee Airman and his life and career after the war years as an Air Force colonel, educator and college administrator.

Shirtz said the fifth movement centers around letters and feedback Brown has received from people inspired by his story.

The June 30 performance at Lakeside will be the premiere of "To Rise Above."

There have been discussions about scheduling future performances, Shirtz said.

Shirtz said he would like to eventually see schools perform the piece and allow students to learn about Brown and his history.

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter: @DanielCarson7

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Shirtz composes jazz narrative based on Tuskegee Airman's life story