"For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots"

Will Re-Air for Black History Month

Frank Martin Film Chronicles Untold Story of African-Americans'

Courageous Service to their Country

HOSTED BY HALLE BERRY, INTRODUCED BY COLIN POWELL, NARRATED BY AVERY BROOKS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY LOUIS GOSSETT, JR,

WITH COOPERATION OF THE U.S. ARMY

In observance of Black History Month in February and in honor of African-Americans who serve our country, For Love of Liberty:  The Story of America's Black Patriots will return to PBS stations around the country and PBS World (check local listings for times and stations).  This powerful four-hour high-definition (HD) documentary film, now a nominee for an NAACP Image Award, salutes our African-American service men and women and reveres their dedicated allegiance to the United States military. Made with the U.S. Army's full cooperation (www.goarmy.com), the film is sponsored by US Bank, Ford Motor Company and State Farm.

Hosted by Halle Berry, narrated by Avery Brooks, and featuring an introduction by Colin Powell, the film begins at the dawn of U.S. history, chronicling African-Americans who risked their lives to create and preserve freedom for their country while attempting to acquire it for themselves. For Love of Liberty:  The Story of America's Black Patriots uses letters, diaries, speeches, journalistic accounts, historical text and military records to document the accomplishments of African-American men and women since the earliest days of the republic.  Their gripping personal stories paint a deeply moving historical account of service and sacrifice, from the Revolutionary War - whose first casualty was a Black man, Crispus Attucks - to today's battle against global terrorism.

The program received praise for the impressive music that accompanies its visual storytelling, a combination of songs and original underscoring for voiceover readings by a veritable who's who of entertainment figures, among them Morgan Freeman, Susan Sarandon, Alan Rickman, Robert Duvall, Danny Glover, Donald Sutherland and Louis Gossett, Jr.  Winner of the 2010 Gold Medal for Excellence in Film Music at the Park City Music and Film Festival, independent Blix Street Records issued the original soundtrack last fall (www.blixstreet.com).  The soundtrack presents 17 musical pieces taken from the score, deftly combining instrumental passages with vintage and contemporary vocal performances.

Among the soundtrack's highlights are the opener, "The Minstrel Boy," on which Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood and the Andrae Crouch Choir transform the classic Celtic ballad into a powerful ensemble piece; Billie Holiday's original "Strange Fruit"; rising opera star Amber Mercomes' "Pie Jesu" (from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Requiem") and Oren Waters' (of the famed singing Waters family) striking update of the classic "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

"For Love of Liberty has the power to forever change perceptions about the vital role African-Americans have played during the entire course of U.S. military history," said actor Louis Gossett Jr., one of the film's executive producers.  "I'm honored to be part of this important and ground-breaking film, and thankful to all my fellow actors who have helped to bring this story to life."

The NAACP says:  "This thought-provoking piece ... brings the experiences and portrayals of these all but forgotten Americans into vivid focus."  Senator John McCain, a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, the Congressional Black Caucus, and most major veterans organizations also have endorsed For Love of Liberty.  The U.S. Army, which has recognized the film's significant educational value, has vetted the historically accurate film, and it enjoys support from all branches of the United States military.

For Love of Liberty:  The Story of America's Black Patriots was produced by Rudy Poe, Frank Martin and James Crite.  The executive producers are Louis Gossett Jr., Hillard Elkins, Dennis Considine, Richard Hull and Kevin Clark.  The soundtrack album was produced by Frank Martin, Blix Street Records founder Bill Straw, score composer Lawrence Brown and song-producer Steve Goldstein.