How Don Cheadle Wrote the Theme Song to His "The Fresh Prince" Spin-Off | Vanity Fair

In this "A List" discussion, Don Cheadle sits down with The Black List's Franklin Leonard to talk about his favorite jazz solos of all time. From Miles Davis' "Summertime" to Jaco Pastorius' "Portraits of Tracy," the actor breaks down what those solos meant to him and how it influenced his life and career. Don also opens up about choosing acting over music, almost getting his own "Fresh Prince" spin-off and what he hopes to see for his future.
SAG-AFTRA members are currently on strike; as part of the strike, union actors are not promoting their film and TV projects. This interview was conducted prior to the strike.
Check out some of Don Cheadle's favorite jazz solos:
Miles Davis - "Summertime" (Porgy & Bess, 1959) bit.ly/3qtme3J
Oscar Peterson - "Tour's End" (The Essential Oscar Peterson: The Swinger, 1992) spoti.fi/45kjbd4
Keith Jarrett - "Personal Mountains" (Personal Mountains, 1989) bit.ly/45he654
Jaco Pastorius - "Portrait of Tracy" (Jaco Pastorius, 1976) bit.ly/43XNjKd
Director: Alice Park
Director of Photography: Matt Krueger
Editor: Katie Wolford; Matt Colby
Host: Franklin Leonard
Producer: Juliet Lopez, Funmi Sunmonu
Line Producer: Romeeka Powell
Associate Producer: Emebeit Beyene
Production Manager: Andressa Pelachi and Kevin Balash
Production Coordinator: Kariesha Kidd
Director, Video Talent : Lauren Mendoza
Camera Operator: Shay Eberle-Gunst and Oliver Lukacs
Sound : Kara Johnson
Production Assistant: Fernando Barajas and Mike Kritzell
Set Designer: Morgan Roberts
Post Production Supervisor: Edward Taylor
Post Production Coordinator: Jovan James
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
00:00 A List with Don Cheadle
01:19 Jazz Solo #1: "Summertime" by Miles Davis
04:45 Jazz Solo #2: "Tour's End" by Oscar Peterson
08:52 "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Back Story
10:04 Jazz Solo #3: "Personal Mountains" by Keith Jarrett
13:19 Don's Activism
16:37 "Damn!" Don Cheadle vs. Kevin Hart Reenactment
18:14 Jazz Solo #4 "Portrait of Tracy" by Jaco Pastorius
19:25 What's Next for Don
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[@TheAruna52]

Fell in love with him when he was in picket fences. hooked ever since!

[@ZionSiva]

Legend.

[@timcrowley8444]

Great video

[@CuddFresh]

great actor

[@Anderson_Se7en]

Cheadle been one of the best black actors for like 30 years

[@glovelace]

Best actors period

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Best Blacktor

[@theedwin]

You came for 16:33

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You a real one, sir 🤝🏽

[@tonykauzeni4154]

Did this guy say Jon Cheadle

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Templeton ✊

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Epico ❤

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[@Christeyedvision]

Did anyone catch that SWV sample?!?

[@Christeyedvision]

The Jaco sound was used in SWV song, “Rain”

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Like ❤

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