Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s heavyweight title fight is considered one of the greatest sporting events of all time. What’s less well known is that five weeks earlier in the very same stadium, James Brown headlined an epic, three-day long, pre-fight music festival. Rumble braids together both boxing and music history for a compelling account of Muhammad Ali’s growth into both The People’s Champ and the GOAT. For his first title fight, he takes on the “bad man” Sonny Liston.

REFERENCE BOOKS:

Ali: The Greatest, My Own Story by Muhammad Ali

Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig

Rumble In the Jungle by Lewis Erenberg

Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s heavyweight title fight is considered one of the greatest sporting events of all time. What’s less well known is that five weeks earlier in the very same stadium, James Brown headlined an epic, three-day long, pre-fight music festival. Rumble braids together both boxing and music history for a compelling account of Muhammad Ali’s growth into both The People’s Champ and the GOAT. For his first title fight, he takes on the “bad man” Sonny Liston.
REFERENCE BOOKS:
Ali: The Greatest, My Own Story by Muhammad Ali
Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Rumble In the Jungle by Lewis Erenberg

Fall 2024 marks 50 years since both the legendary Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, and the Zaire’ 74 music festival, headlined by the likes of James Brown, BB King, Miriam Makeba and myriad other stars.



Muhammad Ali’s life bobs and weaves through an era of revolutions and disruptive social change in both the US and Africa. In the lead up to this highly politicized superfight, Ali and many other freedom fighters are forced to confront old truths and build bridges toward understanding while they learn to wield the power of influence and sacrifice. Featuring personal accounts of the monumental effort it took to put on these events, Rumble walks backstage with a staggeringly powerful group of fighters, performers, producers and activists, uplifting the legacy of Black Excellence. 

Fall 2024 marks 50 years since both the legendary Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, and the Zaire’ 74 music festival, headlined by the likes of James Brown, BB King, Miriam Makeba and myriad other stars.
 
Muhammad Ali’s life bobs and weaves through an era of revolutions and disruptive social change in both the US and Africa. In the lead up to this highly politicized superfight, Ali and many other freedom fighters are forced to confront old truths and build bridges toward understanding while they learn to wield the power of influence and sacrifice. Featuring personal accounts of the monumental effort it took to put on these events, Rumble walks backstage with a staggeringly powerful group of fighters, performers, producers and activists, uplifting the legacy of Black Excellence.

Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of '74

In the summer of 1972, the Rolling Stones swept across an America still smoldering from the tumult of the ‘60s, bringing their gritty masterpiece Exile on Main St. to the masses. Rolling Stone magazine journalist Robert Greenfield was along for the ride, writing the seminal rock book STP (Stones Touring Party) — culled from weeks on the road and more than 60 hours of interviews with the band and their entourage. Now, for the first time, Greenfield and fellow STP vet Gary Stromberg share that tape archive, allowing listeners to sit in on intimate chats with the Stones in their prime. Written and hosted by Jordan Runtagh, with original music by Noel Brown and Mykal Alder June,Stones Touring Party is an all-access pass to the sights, sounds, riots, bombings, drug busts, death threats and other assorted mayhem from this pivotal moment in American history.

In the summer of 1972, the Rolling Stones swept across an America still smoldering from the tumult of the ‘60s, bringing their gritty masterpiece Exile on Main St. to the masses. Rolling Stone magazine journalist Robert Greenfield was along for the ride, writing the seminal rock book STP (Stones Touring Party) — culled from weeks on the road and more than 60 hours of interviews with the band and their entourage. Now, for the first time, Greenfield and fellow STP vet Gary Stromberg share that tape archive, allowing listeners to sit in on intimate chats with the Stones in their prime. Written and hosted by Jordan Runtagh, with original music by Noel Brown and Mykal Alder June, Stones Touring Party is an all-access pass to the sights, sounds, riots, bombings, drug busts, death threats and other assorted mayhem from this pivotal moment in American history.

Stones Touring Party

True Crime is more than blood, guts, mayhem, and murder. Zaron Burnett and Elizabeth Dutton share outlandish tales of capers, heists, and cons that shine a light on the absurd and outrageous side of criminality. Always 99% murder-free and 100% ridiculous, this is Ridiculous Crime, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

Ridiculous Crime

RUMBLE YOUNG MAN RUMBLE

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/32b02c86-9055-4a9e-bca3-b203014db8dc/transcript

Don King swans into the boxing world and manages to get both Ali and Foreman to trust him completely. By working their egos and their dreams of a huge payday –– Don King’s able to persuade the two heavyweights into setting a date for a new title fight. The twist? This title bout, Ali’s latest attempt to reclaim his lost crown, will take place in Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali nicknames their upcoming fight: The Rumble in the Jungle.

NEWS REPORTS (AVAILABLE ON NEWSPAPERS.COM)

“The Akron Beacon” March 25, 1974

“Philadelphia Daily News” March 25, 1974

"Akron Beacon" March 29, 1974

REFERENCE BOOKS

“Ali: A Life” by Jonathan Eig

“Only in America” by Don King (autobiography)

“Lawdy Miss Clawdy: The True King of the ‘50s” by Lloyd Price and William Waller (autobiography)

Don King swans into the boxing world and manages to get both Ali and Foreman to trust him completely. By working their egos and their dreams of a huge payday –– Don King’s able to persuade the two heavyweights into setting a date for a new title fight. The twist? This title bout, Ali’s latest attempt to reclaim his lost crown, will take place in Kinshasa, Zaire. Ali nicknames their upcoming fight: The Rumble in the Jungle.
NEWS REPORTS (AVAILABLE ON NEWSPAPERS.COM)
“The Akron Beacon” March 25, 1974
“Philadelphia Daily News” March 25, 1974
"Akron Beacon" March 29, 1974
REFERENCE BOOKS
“Ali: A Life” by Jonathan Eig
“Only in America” by Don King (autobiography)
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy: The True King of the ‘50s” by Lloyd Price and William Waller (autobiography)

ENTER DON KING

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5685232d-cf2a-4e48-b2d4-b22d017fa1d0/transcript

In the wake of the Attica Prison Uprising, BB King performs for the prisoners at Sing Sing Prison in 1972. The Thanksgiving Day concert sparks a new conversation about prisoner rights. Documentarian Daivd Hoffman recalls his time behind the camera, watching BB King perform, and how he softened the hearts of otherwise life-hardened men. Meanwhile, with the surly Sonny Liston as a role model, George Foreman rises in the ranks as a heavyweight. He fights the Champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, and is held hostage in Venezuela.



FILM/VIDEO REFERENCES

Muhammad Ali poem from the Cathal O’Shannon TV show (available on YouTube)

Sing Sing Thanksgiving, documentary by David Hoffman (available on YouTube)

BOOKS

“The Rumble in the Jungle” by Lewis Erenberg

“Angela Davis: an autobiography” by Angela Davis 

“Hit Me, Fred” by Fred Wesley (autobiography) 

“Smokin’ Joe” by Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (autobiography)

“Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier” by Mark Kram Jr. 

“By George” by George Foreman (autobiography)

In the wake of the Attica Prison Uprising, BB King performs for the prisoners at Sing Sing Prison in 1972. The Thanksgiving Day concert sparks a new conversation about prisoner rights. Documentarian Daivd Hoffman recalls his time behind the camera, watching BB King perform, and how he softened the hearts of otherwise life-hardened men. Meanwhile, with the surly Sonny Liston as a role model, George Foreman rises in the ranks as a heavyweight. He fights the Champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, and is held hostage in Venezuela.
 
FILM/VIDEO REFERENCES
Muhammad Ali poem from the Cathal O’Shannon TV show (available on YouTube)
Sing Sing Thanksgiving, documentary by David Hoffman (available on YouTube)
BOOKS
“The Rumble in the Jungle” by Lewis Erenberg
“Angela Davis: an autobiography” by Angela Davis 
“Hit Me, Fred” by Fred Wesley (autobiography) 
“Smokin’ Joe” by Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (autobiography)
“Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier” by Mark Kram Jr. 
“By George” by George Foreman (autobiography)

BLUES BEHIND BARS

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8668f316-986e-45f7-9fbc-b22601782abd/transcript

 In their epic showdown, “The Fight of the Century,” Muhammad Ali takes on the Champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier. It’s a stunning exhibition of strength, pain, and violence. Their fight is covered by many great writers, who transform Ali into an avatar of the age as they celebrate his ascendance as the People’s Champ. A new boxing contender enters the scene: the giant George Foreman while Miriam Makeba wins hearts as she’s dubbed Mama Africa by her fans.



REFERENCE MATERIALS:

"Ali: A Life" by Jonathan Eig

"The Fight" by Norman Mailer

"Ego" (Life magazine Cover Story, March 19, 1971) article by Norman Mailer

"The Redemption of the Champion" (Life magazine, Sept 9, 1966), article by Gordon Parks

"Shadow Box" by George Plimpton 

"Ringside: A Treasury of Boxing Reportage" by Budd Schulberg 

"The Greatest, My Own Story" by Muhammad Ali (autobiography)

"Smokin’ Joe" by Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (autobiography)

"Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier" by Mark Kram Jr. 

"By George" by George Foreman (autobiography)

Miriam Makeba FBI file (available online at: https://vault.fbi.gov/miriam-makeba)

In their epic showdown, “The Fight of the Century,” Muhammad Ali takes on the Champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier. It’s a stunning exhibition of strength, pain, and violence. Their fight is covered by many great writers, who transform Ali into an avatar of the age as they celebrate his ascendance as the People’s Champ. A new boxing contender enters the scene: the giant George Foreman while Miriam Makeba wins hearts as she’s dubbed Mama Africa by her fans.
 
REFERENCE MATERIALS:
"Ali: A Life" by Jonathan Eig
"The Fight" by Norman Mailer
"Ego" (Life magazine Cover Story, March 19, 1971) article by Norman Mailer
"The Redemption of the Champion" (Life magazine, Sept 9, 1966), article by Gordon Parks
"Shadow Box" by George Plimpton 
"Ringside: A Treasury of Boxing Reportage" by Budd Schulberg 
"The Greatest, My Own Story" by Muhammad Ali (autobiography)
"Smokin’ Joe" by Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (autobiography)
"Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier" by Mark Kram Jr. 
"By George" by George Foreman (autobiography)
Miriam Makeba FBI file (available online at: https://vault.fbi.gov/miriam-makeba)

UNDISPUTED CHAMPION

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/db7b6f01-dcb0-4631-89d9-b21f01635408/transcript

RUMBLE YOUNG MAN RUMBLE

Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of '74

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Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of '74

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