Musical Interlude: Nobody Wants You When You're Down & Out (1966)

 "Nobody Wants You When You're Down & Out", also known as "Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out", dates back to 1923, when it was written. Most famously recorded under either title by Bessie Smith and Bobby Womack, the track fell into the hands of actor-comedian Richard Pryor in 1966. 

Pryor, appearing on the Kraft Summer Music Hall, was a man of many talents. It's just that until this video emerged, no one knew he could sing.

This clip is bracketed with some real-world footage chronicling the struggles of African-Americans of the period.

Now, that makes me wonder if he did sing when he guest hosted Soul Train a few years later.