Why was the Quincy Jones tribute at the Oscars relegated to Queen Latifah singing “Ease on Down the Road” by Charlie Smalls from The Wiz from the soundtrack that Jones produced? 

[youtube id=”3S6nThvnAiM”] Diana Ross and Michael Jackson recorded “Ease On Down The Road” for the 1978 Motown-produced film adaptation of The Wiz. Charlie Smalls wrote all of the music for the 1975 Broadway production of The Wiz which originally debuted at The Majestic Theater in Maryland. Smalls’ music was used for the film version of The Wiz  except for a few songs written by Luther Vandross, Quincy Jones, Anthony Jackson and Ashford and Simpson. The Diana Ross and Michael Jackson recording was Jackson’s first time collaborating with Quincy Jones and it was also his first of two Grammy nominations with Ross. The studio disco group Consumer Rapport first recorded “Ease On Down The Road” in 1975 and made it a number one dance hit. Ross and Jackson’s version also charted, the movie was nominated for four Academy Awards and Smalls won a Tony Award for the Best Score. Despite those achievements, the film failed at the box office and was harshly criticized with most praise going to Jackson’s performance and the set design. The Wiz’s failures lead to Hollywood’s refusal to finance Black musicals for a long time until Spike Lee emerged years later with School Daze. The Wiz still managed to have a pulse that lived among its fans and it also became important because it is Michael Jackson’s only film role. In 2015, NBC remade The Wiz with Queen Latifah, Shanice Williams, Common, David Alan Grier and Mary J.Blige as The Wiz Live!

[youtube id=”Rg5yJPZ1nR0″] Here is a look at Mary J. Blige in costume as the Wicked Witch of The West in The Wiz Live! You can also see Common as the Bouncer of Emerald City and Queen Latifah dressed as The Wizard. The Wiz Live! is a remake of the 1978 film that starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. The Wiz Live! will air December 3rd on NBC.

[youtube id=”D3Z53V6x0KU”] NBC’s production of The Wiz rechristened The Wiz Live! will air on December 3rd with newcomer Shanice Williams playing the role of Dorothy made famous on Broadway by Stephanie Mills. Queen Latifah, Mary J.Blige, Common, Ne-Yo and David Alan Grier will reignite the classic story that will be directed by Kenny Leon. Mills has been cast as Auntie Em  and Fatima Robinson is the choreographer. The Wiz Live! will be the third time L. Frank  Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been reimagined as an urban tale with the first production happening on Broadway in 1975 and then the 1977 film that co-starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.