On Tue, 19 May 1992 09:35:28 EST <WXK03@ALBNYDH2> said:
>1898-1976. I think he played Shakespeare. He sang "Old Man River" in the
>30's version of Show Boat demonstrating a marvelous voice.
>
>Anyone else want to add anything on him?
>
 Shakespeare:  OTHELLO, three times (London, 1930; NYC and on tour,
 1943-5; Stratford-on-Avon, 1959).
 
 There's an excellent chapter on him in Richard Dyer's HEAVENLY BODIES
 (NY: St. Martins, 1986) that points out that Robeson altered the words
 to "Old Man River"--a song that became his signature.
 
 Dyer comments, "These changes in the words of 'Old Man River' are
 interventions in one of the most popular show tunes of the time;
 they mark a political black presence in a mainstream (i.e., white)
 cultural product."
 
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          In our country we have those three unspeakably
          precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of
          conscience, and the prudence never to practice
          either.
                                  --Mark Twain--
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