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Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
''Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope'' is a musical revue first staged in 1971 with music, lyrics and book by Micki Grant. It was originally produced by Edward Padula. Background and productions The all-singing, all-dancing show focuses on the African-American experience with songs on such topics as tenements, slumlords, ghetto life, student protests, black power, and feminism. The music is a mixture of gospel, jazz, funk, soul, calypso, and soft rock. The show had its first staging at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. from September 15 to October 10, 1971, with subsequent stagings at the Locust and Walnut Street Theatres in Philadelphia. The restaged Broadway production, directed by Vinnette Carroll and choreographed by George Faison, opened to acclaim on April 19, 1972, at the Playhouse Theatre, where it ran for two months before transferring to the Edison. It had a total run of 1065 performances. In his review of the opening night, Clive Barnes of ''The New York Times'' descri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Micki Grant
Micki Grant (born Minnie Louise Perkins, June 30, 1929 – August 22, 2021) was an American singer (soprano), actress, writer, and composer. She performed in ''Having Our Say'' (as Sadie Delaney), ''Tambourines to Glory'' and ''Jericho-Jim Crow'' both co-written by Langston Hughes, ''The Gingham Dog'', ''Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope'', and received three Tony Award nominations for her writing."Micki Grant" The HistoryMakers. Early life Minnie Louise Perkins was born in , to Gussie and Oscar Perkins on June 30, 1929. Some sources also state that she was born in 1941; Grant was said to have lowered her age early for reasons related to her career. Her fa ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flip Wilson
Clerow "Flip" Wilson Jr. (December 8, 1933 – November 25, 1998) was an American comedian and actor best known for his television appearances during the late 1960s and 1970s. From 1970 to 1974, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series ''The Flip Wilson Show'', and introduced viewers to his recurring character Geraldine. The series earned Wilson a Golden Globe and two Emmy Awards, and it was the second highest-rated show on network television for a time. Wilson was the first African American to host a successful TV variety show.Nat King Cole was the first African American entertainer to host a television variety show, in 1956. Sammy Davis Jr. hosted a short-lived variety show in 1966. In January 1972, ''Time'' magazine featured Wilson's image on its cover and named him "TV's first black superstar". He released a number of comedy albums in the 1960s and 1970s and won a Grammy Award for his 1970 album ''The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress''.Some sources, including Wilson's obit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Savion Glover
Savion Glover (born November 19, 1973) is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer. Early life The youngest of three sons, Glover was born to a white father, who left the family before he was born, and a black mother. Glover's great grandfather on his mother's side, Dick Lundy, was a shortstop in the Negro leagues. He managed eleven Negro league baseball teams, including the Newark Eagles.Lahr, 270. His grandfather, Bill Lewis, was a big band pianist and vocalist. His grandmother, Anna Lundy Lewis, was the minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. She played for Whitney Houston when she was singing in the gospel choir, and was the one who first noticed Savion's musical talent. She once held him and hummed some rhythms to him, and he smiled and joined along. Glover graduated from Newark Arts High School in 1991. Career Glover stated that his style is "young and funk." When asked to describe what funk is, he says it is the bass line. "Funk is anyt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
York Theatre Company
York Theatre is an off-Broadway theatre company based in East Midtown Manhattan, New York City. In its 50th year, York Theatre is dedicated to the production of new musicals and concert productions of forgotten musicals from the past. Each season consists of three or four mainstage productions, six or more concert presentations and dozens of developmental readings. It has had several transfers of its work to larger off-Broadway theatres and to Broadway. The company was awarded a special Drama Desk Award in 1996 to its artistic director Janet Hayes Walker and in 2006 for its "vital contributions to theater by developing and presenting new musicals". The York also received a Special Achievement Outer Critics Circle Award for 50 years of producing new and classic musicals. After Walker's death in 1997, the company has been run by James Morgan. From 1993 to 2020, the company performed at St. Peter's Church in the Citigroup Center at 619 Lexington Avenue at the corner of East 54th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jerry Ragovoy
Jordan "Jerry" Ragovoy (September 4, 1930 – July 13, 2011) was an American songwriter and record producer. His best-known composition " Time Is on My Side" (written under the pseudonym of Norman Meade) was made famous by the Rolling Stones, although it had been recorded earlier by Kai Winding and Irma Thomas. Ragovoy also wrote " Stay With Me", which was originally recorded by Lorraine Ellison and made famous by Bette Midler in her film '' The Rose''. It was also performed by Mary J. Blige at the 49th Grammy Awards. He also wrote "Piece of My Heart" which became a significant hit for Big Brother and the Holding Company, featuring Janis Joplin. During the 1960s, Ragovoy "helped mould the new African-American sound of soul music", according to the obituary in ''The Guardian''. During this venture, he co-wrote the Afro-pop dance song "Pata Pata" with Miriam Makeba; the song became a major hit for Makeba and was covered by numerous other artists. He was the founder of The Hit Fact ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polydor
Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. In turn, Polydor distributes Interscope releases in the United Kingdom. Polydor Records Ltd. was established in London in 1954 as a British subsidiary of German company Deutsche Grammophon/Schallplatte Grammophon GmbH. It was renamed Polydor Ltd. in 1972. Notable current and past artists signed to the label include ABBA, Cream, The Moody Blues, The Who, Ringo Starr, Bee Gees, The Jam, Bing Crosby, The Shadows, James Brown, Level 42, Ellie Goulding, Juice WRLD, Piri & Tommy, James Last, Eric Clapton, Marie Osmond, Keith O'Conner Murphy, Yngwie Malmsteen, Lana Del Rey, Haim, and Buckingham Nicks. Label history Beginnings Polydor Records was founded on 2 April 1913 by German Polyphon-Musikwerke AG in Leipzig and registered on 25 July 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paula Kelly (actress/dancer)
Paula Alma Kelly (October 21, 1942 – February 8, 2020) was an American actress, singer, dancer and choreographer in films, television and theatre. Kelly's career began during the mid–1960s in theatre, making her Broadway debut as Mrs. Veloz in the 1964 musical ''Something More!'', alongside Barbara Cook. Kelly's other Broadway credits include ''The Dozens'' (1969), '' Paul Sills' Story Theatre'' (1971), ''Ovid's Metamorphoses'' (1971), and ''Sophisticated Ladies'' (1981), based on the music of Duke Ellington, appearing with Gregory Hines and Phyllis Hyman. Early life and education Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Kelly was one of three daughters born to Ruth and Lehman Kelly, a jazz musician. By age six, Kelly's family had relocated to Harlem neighborhood of New York City. For high school, Kelly attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, majoring in music. Kelly continued her studies at the Juilliard School of Music, where she majored in dance under Martha H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of African-American Firsts
African-Americans are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group in the United States. The first achievements by African-Americans in diverse fields have historically marked footholds, often leading to more widespread cultural change. The shorthand phrase for this is "breaking the color barrier". One commonly cited example is that of Jackie Robinson, who became the Baseball color line, first African-American of the modern era to become a Major League Baseball player in 1947, ending 60 years of segregated Negro leagues. 17th century 1670s 1670 * First African-American to own land in Boston: Zipporah Potter Atkins 18th century 1730s–1770s 1738 * First free African-American community: Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (later named Fort Mose) in Spanish Florida 1746 * First known African-American (and slave) to compose a work of literature: Lucy Terry with her poem "Bars Fight", composed in 1746🖉 and first published in 1855 in Josiah Holland ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arnold Wilkerson
Arnold Wilkerson (born April 6, 1943) is an American actor and the creator and owner of the Little Pie Company in Manhattan, New York City. As an actor, he is particularly known for portraying roles in the original productions of the musicals ''Hair'', ''Jimmy Shine'', and ''Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope''. Biography Wilkerson was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London where he graduated with a diploma in acting. He moved to New York City, making his Off-Broadway debut as Hud in the original production of James Rado and Gerome Ragni's ''Hair'' at Joseph Papp's Public Theater in October 1967. He made his Broadway debut in 1968 as Arnold in the original production of John Sebastian's ''Jimmy Shine'', sharing the stage with Dustin Hoffman and Rue McClanahan. In 1969 he acted in Jon Swan's ''Fireworks'' at the Village South Theatre. That same year he appeared in the original production of Ronald Ribman's ''The Most Bea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hope Clarke
Hope Clarke (born March 23, 1941) is an American actress, dancer, vocalist, choreographer, and director. Clarke performed as principal dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 1960s; actress on stage, film, and television, 1970s–1980s; choreographer and director, 1980s--. Clarke served on the Tony Awards Nominating Committee for the 2011–12 Broadway season. Clarke made history in 1995 when she became the first African American, as well as the first African-American woman, to direct and choreograph a major staging of the opera-musical ''Porgy and Bess''. Clarke's production of the George Gershwin classic was staged in celebration of the work's 60h anniversary, and it toured not only major American cities but Japan and Europe as well. Clarke drew critical acclaim for her commitment to staging the show as a monument to African-American community and pride, giving a more hopeful, positive aura to a story that has been criticized for it ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alex Bradford
Alex Bradford (January 23, 1927 – February 15, 1978) (professionally known as Professor Alex Bradford) was a multi-talented Gospel music, gospel composer, singer, arranger and choir director, who was an influence on artists such as Little Richard, Bob Marley and Ray Charles, and who helped bring about the modern mass choir movement in gospel. Biography Born in Bessemer, Alabama, United States, he first appeared on stage at the age of four, then joined a children's gospel group at the age of 13, soon obtaining his own radio show. He organized another group after his mother sent him to New York City following a racial incident; he continued singing after returning to attend the Snow Hill Normal and Industrial Institute, Snow Hill Institute in Snow Hill, Alabama, where he acquired the title "Professor" while teaching as a student. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, Chicago in 1947, where he worked briefly with Roberta Martin and toured with Mahalia Jackson, then struck out on his own ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Time (magazine)
''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published Weekly newspaper, weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on March 3, 1923, and for many years it was run by its influential co-founder, Henry Luce. A European edition (''Time Europe'', formerly known as ''Time Atlantic'') is published in London and also covers the Middle East, Africa, and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition (''Time Asia'') is based in Hong Kong. The South Pacific edition, which covers Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, is based in Sydney. Since 2018, ''Time'' has been published by Time USA, LLC, owned by Marc Benioff, who acquired it from Meredith Corporation. History ''Time'' has been based in New York City since its first issue published on March 3, 1923, by Briton Hadden and Henry Luce. It was the first weekly news magazine in the United St ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
