June 3, 1952 – January 28, 2009
Billy Powell was most widely known as the keyboard and piano player for the American southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Powell originated as a roadie for the fledgling band, but impressed the members with his piano playing during downtime. He was offered a position and went on to be one of the longest tenured members of the legendary group.
January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977
Ronnie Van Zant was the oldest of three musical brothers from Jacksonville, Florida. In high school, Ronnie formed a band with classmates Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Bob Burns and Larry Junstrom. The band changed names a couple of times before landing on the name Lynyrd Skynyrd – a tounge-in-cheek nod to their gym teacher, Leonard Skinner. Van Zant served as the singer and primary lyricist. Continue reading
April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976
Paul Leroy Robeson was a staggeringly talented singer and performer. His definitive baritone voice led to landmark performances in New York, London and around the world. He starred notably in original Broadway productions of All God’s Chillun Got Wings and The Emperor Jones (both by Eugene O’Neill) and appeared in 4 different versions of Jerome Kern‘s quintessential hit, Show Boat, including the 1936 film version, which made famous his rendition of “Ol’ Man River.” Continue reading
September 3, 1910 – April 17, 2007
If Kitty Carlisle’s legacy can’t be measured in quantity, it certainly can be measured in longevity. Her career spanned more than 70 years. The actress and singer spent her youth traipsing around Europe with her mother looking for a prince to marry. While she never found Prince Charming, she did get the chance to study at some of the top schools in Europe such as the Sorbonne in Paris and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Her return to the U.S. led to Broadway where she would appear in shows in 7 different decades. Continue reading
February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986
“He wasn’t as well known as some of us, but he was a better songwriter than most of us and he will be missed by all of us.” – Irving Berlin
Harold Arlen was a composer and widely regarded as one of the most successful pop-song writers of all time. He worked with all the great lyricists including Johnny Mercer, Ted Koehler, Ira Gershwin and Yip Harburg. He is one of the most prominent contributors to the Great American Songbook. Continue reading
October 9, 1932 – July 3, 1957
On June 17, 1957, filming wrapped on Elvis Presley‘s new movie, Jailhouse Rock. Two weeks later, his young costar – an up-and-coming actress named Judy Tyler – was dead.
Tyler was born and raised in the New York City area. Encouraged by many in her entertainment-rich family, she began acting as a teen. She made regular appearances on the popular Howdy Doody television show and found work on Broadway. In 1955, she landed a starring role in Pipe Dream, a new musical from Broadway legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Continue reading
May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011
Dwight Myers, known professionally as “Heavy D”, was a Jamaican/American rapper and actor who became popular in the late 1980s and throughout the ’90s and 2000s. As the front man for Heavy D & the Boyz, Myers’ rapping was featured in a string of gold and platinum records that were all Top 10 on the U.S. R&B charts. The group’s hits included “Big Tyme” and “Nuttin’ But Love.” Heavy D also performed with both Michael and Janet Jackson and rapped on a number of TV show themes in the ’90s including In Living Color and MADtv. Continue reading
December 24, 1962 – June 5, 2018
Kate Brosnahan Spade was a journalism major who worked for Mademoiselle magazine after graduating from college. In 1993, she and her fiancé launched a fashion line by selling handbags from their New York City apartment. Kate Spade New York became a successful brand that relied on simple designs, cheerful patterns and vibrant colors that contrasted many of the darker and more serious brands of the time. The more affordable bags appealed to younger professional customers and became instantly popular. Continue reading
October 24, 1904 – December 20, 1961
With the help of a beloved aunt, Moss Hart grew up enamored by the possibilities of the theater. To be able to create worlds and characters that weren’t bound by the economic or social insecurity he saw everyday was thrilling to him. So, growing up in New York City, it was no surprise when he started to write about these worlds and characters. By the time he was in his mid-20s, Hart had his first hit on Broadway: a play called Once in a Lifetime that he cowrote with George S. Kaufman. Kaufman and Hart would go on to collaborate on a string of hit plays including You Can’t Take it With You, George Washington Slept Here and The Man Who Came to Dinner. Continue reading
December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005
October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014
Raiford Chatman “Ossie” Davis was an actor, writer, director and activist whose career charged across the stage and screen through the turbulent middle half of the American 20th Century. Along with contemporaries like Sidney Poitier and Melvin Van Peeples, Davis forever altered how Black artists approached their roles and the stories they told.
Ruby Ann Wallace was an actress, poet, writer, journalist and activist whose seven decade career garnered a Drama Desk award, an Emmy, an Obie, a Screen Actors Guild award, and a Grammy. She was nominated for a Academy Award for her performance in the 2007 film American Gangster.
In 1946, Davis and Dee met on the Broadway production of Jeb. They were married shortly thereafter and their partnership would become legendary. Continue reading
Celebrity Graveland 