Bobby Short facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bobby Short |
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Short in 2000
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Waltrip Short |
| Born | September 15, 1924 Danville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | March 21, 2005 (aged 80) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Swing, traditional pop, vocal jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, pianist |
| Labels | Atlantic Records |
Robert Waltrip Short (September 15, 1924 – March 21, 2005) was a famous American singer and pianist. He was known for performing songs from the early 1900s. He sang music by popular composers like Cole Porter and George Gershwin.
Bobby Short also loved to sing songs by talented African-American composers. These included Duke Ellington and Fats Waller. He showed that their music was just as great as anyone else's.
Bobby Short loved what he called the "Great American Song". He was great at singing all kinds of songs. His favorite songwriters were Ellington, Harold Arlen, and Jerome Kern. He helped build the Ellington Memorial in New York City.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Bobby Short was born in Danville, Illinois, United States. Two of his school friends were Dick Van Dyke and Donald O'Connor.
When he was 11, he left home with his mother's permission. He moved to Chicago and started playing piano in dance halls and saloons. He also performed as a street musician.
A Long and Successful Career
Short began his professional music career in clubs in the 1940s. In 1968, he got a chance to perform at the Café Carlyle in New York City. He was supposed to fill in for two weeks.
But Bobby Short, along with Beverly Peer on bass and Dick Sheridan on drums, became a huge hit. He stayed at the Café Carlyle for over 35 years. He often played music all night long at his favorite places.
In 1971, Short wrote a book called Black and White Baby. It described his childhood and his family's struggles. Later, in 1995, he wrote Bobby Short: The Life and Times of a Saloon Singer. This book told the story of his career through the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
Bobby Short in Movies and TV
Bobby Short also sang for movies and television shows. In 1972, he performed the theme song for the film Savages. In 1976, he sang in a commercial for Revlon's "Charlie" perfume.
In 1979, he performed a concert with 25 songs. This was later released on DVD in 2004. In 1981, he appeared on the TV show The Love Boat. He also sang part of the opening theme for the show Misfits of Science in 1985.
Short continued working in films. In 1986, he was in the Woody Allen movie Hannah and Her Sisters. Woody Allen later used Short's song "I Happen to Like New York" for the start of his film Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993).
In 1991, Short played a blues musician named Ches Collins on the TV series In the Heat of the Night. He also sang the theme song for that episode. He played the role again in 1994. In 1993, he appeared in the movie For Love or Money. His last film role was in Man of the Century in 1999.
Later Years and Legacy
In 2000, the Library of Congress named Bobby Short a "Living Legend". This was a special honor. The next year, Short's voice was heard in the 200th episode of the TV show Frasier.
In 2004, Bobby Short announced he would stop his regular shows at the Café Carlyle. He continued to tour and travel until the end of his life.
Awards and Recognition
Bobby Short received many honors for his talent. In 1983, he was given the Order of Lincoln. This is the highest honor from the State of Illinois for people in the performing arts.
His Family
Bobby Short adopted Ronald Bell, who was the son of Short's older brother William.
Death
Bobby Short passed away on March 21, 2005, from leukemia. He is buried in Atherton Cemetery in Danville, Illinois, where he was born.
Music Albums (Discography)
- Songs by Bobby Short (1955, Atlantic)
- Bobby Short (1956, Atlantic)
- Speaking of Love (1957, Atlantic)
- Sing Me A Swing Song (1958, Atlantic)
- The Mad Twenties (1959, Atlantic)
- Bobby Short on the East Side (1960, Atlantic)
- My Personal Property (1963, Atlantic)
- Jump for Joy (1969, Atlantic)
- Nobody Else But Me (1971, Atlantic)
- Bobby Loves Cole Porter (1971, Atlantic)
- Bobby Short is Mad About Noël Coward (1972, Atlantic)
- Bobby Short is K-RA-ZY for Gershwin (1973, Atlantic)
- Live at the Cafe Carlyle (1974, Atlantic)
- Bobby Short Celebrates Rodgers & Hart (1975, Atlantic)
- Personal (1977, Atlantic)
- Moments Like This (1982, Elektra/Asylum)
- Guess Who's in Town: Bobby Short Performs the Songs of Andy Razaf (1987, Atlantic)
- Late Night at the Cafe Carlyle (1992, Telarc)
- Swing That Music (1993, Telarc)
- Songs of New York (Live) (1995, Telarc)
- Celebrating 30 Years of the Cafe Carlyle (1998, Telarc)
- You're the Top: The Love Songs of Cole Porter (1999, Telarc)
- Piano (2001, Surroundedby Entertainment)
As a Guest Singer
With Benny Carter
- Benny Carter Songbook (MusicMasters, 1996)
Movies (Filmography)
- Call Me Mister (1951)
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979)
- Hardhat and Legs (1980)
- You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story (1983)
- Hannah and her Sisters (1986)
- For Love or Money (1993)
- Blue Ice (1993)
- Man of the Century (1999)
- Always At The Carlyle (2018)
Television Shows
- The Love Boat (2 episodes, 1981)
- In the Heat of the Night (2 episodes, 1991, 1994)
- Frasier (1 episode, 2001)
- 7th Heaven (1 episode 2003)
Images for kids
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Short in 2000
See also
In Spanish: Bobby Short para niños
