TODD DUNCAN (Part one) You can take the Negro baritone, who has reached the heights on the stage, out of his native state, but you cant take . . . by RHEA TALLEY TODD DUNCAN will have to go even farther before he forgets Kentucky. An Duncan the Negro baritone, already had gone about as far as he can in his field. Currenly he is starring on Broadway in the musical, Lost in the Stars, based on the best-seller about a South Afrucan Negro preacher, Cry the Beloved County. He has just returned from his second singing tour of Australia and New Zealand. Before that he made two tours of Europe, including the Scandinvian countires. In 1945 he was a hit in Cental and South America. And he will be eternally famous as the original Porgy of Gershwins Porsey and Bess. Duncans mother, who is a Hoosier, wants him to say hes from Indiana. Thats where he went to college. But he says, I dont know, though, theres something about Kentucky. I always tell people Im a Kentuckian. Born in Danville, Duncan who raised in Somerset and went to high school in Louisville, returning to teach at that same school. Since Lost in the Stars opened several white people from Somerset have gone backstage to shake his hand, and on opening night Sara Lee, Weissinger-Gaulbert Apartment, Louisville, made a special trip to New York to hear her old pupil. Miss Lee was my first teacher, and shes still my teacher, says Duncan. Every now and then I go to Louisville for about four days to take lessons. I dont tell anyone Im there, becuase I want to work, and I hate to hurt peoples feelings by refusing invitations. To Miss Lee he gives credit for actually discovering his voice. Once a week she gave vocal lessons to six negro boys at Simmons University before it became Louisville Municipal College. Duncan was one of the boys.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 16:14:24 +0000