Calendar - Paul Katzeff

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Book Reading & Signing

Courtyard by Marriott near Logan Airport, 225 McClellan Hwy., E. Boston, MA

• Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, 2:00 p.m.

Paul and Marvin Gilmore will be discussing Marvin’s harrowing experiences in World War II and signing copies of books that visitors purchase. Also, Paul will read excerpts from his biography of Marvin. Other WWII veteran-heroes will attend. In addition, Andrew Biggio, author of The Rifle, will be on hand for a reading from his book.

Past Appearances

Museum

Museum of African American History, 46 Joy St. (Beacon Hill), Boston, Mass. (map)

• Thursday, May 19, 2016, 6:00 p.m.

Paul and Marvin were interviewed by noted WCVB-TV journalist Karen Holmes Ward at the historic Museum, before an eager audience of about 50 people. Paul’s biography of Marvin was on sale, and Paul and Marvin autographed copies.

Paul (left), Marvin and WCVB-TV's Karen Holmes Ward chatted before at the Museum of African American History, in the oldest African American church in North America. — *Paul (left), Marvin and WCVB-TV’s Karen Holmes Ward chatted at the Museum of African American History, in the oldest African American church in North America.*

The Museum's Director of Marketing and Public Programming Lynn DuVal Luse introduced Paul and Marvin to the audience. — *The Museum’s Director of Marketing and Public Programming Lynn DuVal Luse introduced Paul and Marvin to the audience.*

World famous pianist Ran Blake was in the audience. "We old musicians have to stick together," he told Paul, referring to Marvin. — World famous pianist Ran Blake was in the audience. “We old musicians have to stick together,” he told Paul, referring to Marvin.

Television

Karen Holmes Ward interviews Paul and Marvin on WCVB-TV’s (Boston Ch. 5) “CityLine”

• Sunday, May 2, 2016 at noon

Paul (left), Marvin and "CityLine" host Karen Holmes Ward — *Paul (left), Marvin and host Karen Holmes Ward in-studio at WCVB-TV for Channel 5’s “CityLine,” an award-winning urban news and feature magazine program.*

Library

Cambridge Public Library, main branch, lecture hall, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, Mass. (map)

• Thurs., May 14, 2015

*Marvin (left) and Paul share a podium at the Cambridge Public Library.*

Paul and Marvin appeared in the lecture hall of the main library branch. Paul read excerpts. He and Marvin took audience questions and signed books.

University

UMass Boston

• Thurs., April 30, 2015

Paul and Marvin appeared at Alumni Lounge in the Campus Center of UMass Boston. Paul read excerpts and he and Marvin took audience questions and signed books. The gathering was hosted by the UMass Boston Black Faculty, Staff & Student Association and sponsored by Chancellor J. Keith Motley, who introduced Marvin and Paul to the audience.

Radio & Podcast

Bonnie Johnson’s “Colors of Jazz,” 90.5 FM, WICN Public Radio, 51 Portland St., Worcester, MA (map)

• Sunday, March 29, 2015

*In the WICN-FM studio, seated in armchairs, Marvin (center) and Paul take a question from a member of the studio audience.*

Host Bonnie Johnson welcomed Paul and Marvin back for another appearance, this time with a live studio audience. The audience asked questions and bought copies of Paul’s biography of Marvin. Paul and Marvin autographed books.

Bonnie, Paul and Marvin discussed Marvin’s early career as a musician and the Western Front, the popular music club Marvin ran in Cambridge for decades. Bonnie pleasantly surprised Marvin by bringing back old friends and performers, including members of the G-Clefs, a doo wop group whose national performances over the decades included appearances at the Western Front. Members of the G-Clefs sang and danced in studio for Marvin, Paul, and the studio audience!

Later, Paul and Marvin discussed what Marvin has done throughout his career to help people recognize and remedy discrimination.

One episode Paul described: A fateful journey Marvin took with basketball star Bill Russell to Mississippi to test enforcement of the then recently enacted Civil Rights Act of 1964. Marvin and Russell spent days in that segregation stronghold being chased and threatened by armed militant segregationists. In Paul’s biography of Marvin, the men’s efforts to elude danger reads like an action-packed thriller.

Book Store

Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Plaza, 541 Lincoln St.,Worcester, MA (map)

• Sunday, March 29, 2015

Paul read excerpts from the book, then described how Marvin’s path in life was influenced by hearing his grandmother describe her experiences as a slave in pre-Civil War Alabama. Marvin became determined to stand up for his family — and for other people. That’s why he joined the Army when he was underage. Paul will describe Marvin’s scary experiences in combat during WWII, and what it was like to be a black G.I. when the Army was still officially segregated. He also described Marvin’s perilous trip to Mississippi with basketball star Bill Russell. Marvin and Russell were repeatedly threatened and attacked by armed segregationists. Paul discussed how Marvin created the Western Front music club — and how Marvin was kidnapped at gunpoint one night.

After the reading, Paul and Marvin signed copies for people who bought the biography.