The Nicholas Brothers
American Flash Dancers
Fayard Nicholas
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Harold Nicholas
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"Jumpin' Jive" with Cab Calloway & His Cotton Club Orchestra
from the 1943 film Stormy Weather (colorized).
Fred Astaire declared this performance,
"the greatest dance number I have ever seen on film."
from the 1943 film Stormy Weather (colorized).
Fred Astaire declared this performance,
"the greatest dance number I have ever seen on film."
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The Nicholas Sisters reminisce about their grandfather and uncle and how the Nicholas Brothers achieved stardom.
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Lucky Number, a 1936 short film
when Fayard was 22 and Harold 15. |
In their later years, the Nicholas Brothers taught tap dance at Harvard and Radcliffe. Among their most famous students are Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson who featured the Brothers in her 1990 video Alright.
They show they've still got it at 4:57 into the video.
They show they've still got it at 4:57 into the video.
Romare Bearden
American artist, author, songwriter
1911 - 1988
https://beardenfoundation.org/
The Block, Bearden's 1971 18-foot long paper collage of a Harlem streetscape
Bearden in front of The Block
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Composer Carlos Simon's "The Block" inspired by the artwork. Performed by the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra
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Adolphus Hailstork
83-year-old American composer of symphonies, operas, and various works for chorus, solo voice, piano, and more
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Dr. Hailstork talks about his piece
"An American Port of Call" before a performance in Nashville in 2019. |
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performs Hailstork's "An American Port of Call" in 2023.
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https://www.adolphushailstorkcomposer.com/
James Earl Jones
American Actor 1931 - 2024
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Jones was one of the few entertainers to win the EGOT:
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony Awards. Three Emmys One Grammy An Honorary Academy Award Three Tony Awards |
USA Olympics Women's Gymnastics Team wins GOLD
The GOLDEN GIRLS
Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee
Jordan Chiles
23-year-old American Artistic Gymnast |
Simone Biles
27-year-old American Artistic Gymnast |
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Team USA Olympic Medalists
Noah LylesThe 27-year-old track-and-field sprinter won Olympic gold in the 100-meter final by .005 seconds.
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Sha'Carri RichardsonThe 24-year-old American track-and-field sprinter won a silver medal in the 100-meter final.
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Jasmine MooreThe 23-year-old Texas native is the first American woman to win an Olympic medal (bronze) in the triple jump.
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Yared NuguseThe 25-year-old Kentucky native specializes in 1500-meter races and he finished third in the Paris final to win Olympic Bronze.
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Gabby ThomasThe 27-year-old won the 200-meter final for Olympic Gold--her first gold medal at any major world championship.
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Quincy HallIn a thrilling finish,
the 26-year-old Missouri native sprinted from behind to win the gold medal in the 400-meter final by .04 seconds. |
Frederick Richard
20-year old American Olympic gymnast
Watch the video where Frederick qualified for the Olympic team
Frederick Richard--a two-time world bronze medalist--has helped lead the U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team to Bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSk-5Hd86dg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSk-5Hd86dg
Simone Biles
27-year-old American Artistic Gymnast
With 40 Olympic & World Championship medals (and counting), she is history's most decorated gymnast
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Simone won Paris Olympic gold in Women's Gymnastics All-Around.
It's her 6th gold medal! |
Simone wins gold in Vault Final--her 3rd gold medal of the Paris Olympics, 7th gold total!
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Securing her spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team by winning the all-around title at the June 30th Trials.
Simone is the fourth American woman to make 3 U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams; and at age 27, she is the oldest woman gymnast to make an Olympic team in 72 years.
Simone is the fourth American woman to make 3 U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams; and at age 27, she is the oldest woman gymnast to make an Olympic team in 72 years.
Opal Lee
The 97-year-old "Grandmother of Juneteenth"
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Josh Gibson
1911 - 1947
American Baseball Hall of Famer
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Crystal Taliefero
61-year-old American multi-instrumentalist & vocalist
61-year-old American multi-instrumentalist & vocalist
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Tours & records as a member of the Billy Joel Band since 1989
Denzel Washington
69-year-old American actor, film director and producer
69-year-old American actor, film director and producer
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1989 Academy Award Best Supporting Actor for Glory.
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2001 Academy Award Best Actor for Training Day.
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2011 Commencement Speech @ the University of Pennsylvania
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Tania Leon
80-year-old American composer |
The 2022 Kennedy Center Honors
Giants
Art from the Dean Collection of Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz
Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz on the Today Show
Colman Domingo
54-year-old American actor
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Nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin
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George Walker
1922 -2018 Walker was the first African American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music
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"Lilacs for Voice & Orchestra" won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1996.
As the unanimous choice of the Music Jury "this passionate and very American musical composition...has a beautiful and evocative lyrical quality using words of Walt Whitman" from his elegy to President Lincoln.
As the unanimous choice of the Music Jury "this passionate and very American musical composition...has a beautiful and evocative lyrical quality using words of Walt Whitman" from his elegy to President Lincoln.
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Alma Thomas
1891 - 1978 Artist & teacher Now recognized as a major 20th century American painter |
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Octavia Butler
1947 - 2006 American science fiction author. Multiple winner of Hugo and Nebula awards |
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William James "Count" Basie
1904 - 1984
American jazz pianist, bandleader & composer
American jazz pianist, bandleader & composer
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An awesome 1965 concert by Basie and his band. Check out "Whirly Bird" at about 32 minutes into the video. The whole group is smokin' but drummer Rufus "Speedy" Jones is superhuman on his solo starting at around 35 minutes.
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Angela Bassett
65-year-old American actress
65-year-old American actress
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Known for her film and television roles since the 1980s, Angela Bassett's accolades include two Golden Globe Awards:
*Best Actress in a Motion Picture for her portrayal of Tina Turner in 1993's "What's Love Got to Do With It" *Best Supporting Actress for 2022's "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" |
She was also nominated for Academy Awards for both of those roles.
In 2023 Time magazine named Bassett one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. |
Nathaniel Adams Coles
aka
aka
Nat King Cole
1919 - 1965
singer, jazz pianist, actor
1919 - 1965
singer, jazz pianist, actor
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In the 1940s, '50s & '60s, Nat King Cole recorded over 100 songs that became pop chart hits including:
* Unforgettable
* Smile
* Mona Lisa
* Autumn Leaves
* Stardust and
* The Christmas Song
which in 2022 peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100--62 years after Cole's recording debuted on the chart!
* Unforgettable
* Smile
* Mona Lisa
* Autumn Leaves
* Stardust and
* The Christmas Song
which in 2022 peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100--62 years after Cole's recording debuted on the chart!
Anthony Parnther
42-year-old conductor & bassoonist
Music Director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra
&
the Southeast Symphony in Los Angeles
Music Director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra
&
the Southeast Symphony in Los Angeles
Parnther has guest conducted many of the country's premier orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and more.
Parnther is also a leading conductor of music for motion pictures, television and video games such as the Oscar-winning score of Oppenheimer, The Mandalorian, and League of Legends.
As a bassoon player, Parnther played in the orchestra that performed John Williams' Oscar-nominated score to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
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Parnther recently conducted a live orchestra playing the score of Oppenheimer during a screening of the film.
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Anthony Parnther conducts the Southeast Symphony Orchestra in
"Lift Every Voice & Sing"
"Lift Every Voice & Sing"
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Parnther conducts Mahler's Resurrection Symphony
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Parnther plays bassoon and contrabassoon
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Cherry Archer
Canadian "Ice Tile" Photographer
Canadian "Ice Tile" Photographer
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Cherry snips plants from her garden then freezes them in water to form "Botanical Ice Tiles." She then illuminates them with colored lights and photographs the tiles over several sessions, experimenting with changing light combinations and varying frost patterns.
Anthony Mackie
45-year-old American actor
45-year-old American actor
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Mackie's films include 8 Mile, The Manchurian Candidate, Spike Lee's Sucker Free City, Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby, The Hurt Locker, and Notorious (where he played Tupac Shakur).
He's starred in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films as Falcon and then the new Captain America.
He's starred in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films as Falcon and then the new Captain America.
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Oscar Peterson
1925 - 2007 Canadian jazz pianist & composer |
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Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists,
Peterson released over 200 recordings and won 8 Grammy Awards.
Duke Ellington called him the "Maharaja of the keyboard."
Peterson released over 200 recordings and won 8 Grammy Awards.
Duke Ellington called him the "Maharaja of the keyboard."
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Peterson plays solo tribute to Thelonious Monk
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Oscar Peterson Trio in 1957
plus Joe Jones, drums
Roy Eldridge, trumpet Stuff Smith, violin and later, singer Ella Fitzgerald |
Ernie Barnes
1938 - 2009
American Artist
1938 - 2009
American Artist
Barnes played professional football in the 1960s. As a member of the Denver Broncos he was often fined by the coach for sketching during team meetings. He was fined $100 for one sketch that years later sold for $1,000!
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
1745 - 1799
French violinist, composer, conductor, soldier, fencer, dancer
1745 - 1799
French violinist, composer, conductor, soldier, fencer, dancer
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The Untold Story of Joseph Bologne,
the "Black Mozart" |
1788 portrait of Bologne
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Violin Concerto in A, Opus 5 #2...one of 12 Bologne composed
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Bokeem Woodbine
50-year-old American actor
50-year-old American actor
As Massive Genius on The Sopranos
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As Mike Milligan on Fargo
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Nicknamed Bo, Woodbine's roles in movies and TV shows over the past 30 years have included Spike Lee's Crooklyn, The X-Files, the 2nd season of Fargo, Spider Man: Homecoming, and even music videos and video games.
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Bokeem Woodbine as Drill Sgt Leland Laws in "The Inspection" WARNING: Adult language
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Bokeem Woodbine talks about his character Soren on "Halo"
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