Danny Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Danny Simmons
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Simmons in 2019
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Daniel "Danny" Simmons Jr.
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree |
| Known for | Artist, Neo-African Abstract Expressionism |
| Awards | TONY, Peabody, NY Mayor Awards for Arts + Culture |
Daniel "Danny" Simmons Jr. is a talented American artist, writer, and poet. He is known for his unique style of painting called Neo-African abstract expressionism. This means his art uses colors and shapes to show feelings and ideas, often inspired by African culture.
Danny Simmons is also a kind person who helps others. He is a co-founder of the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. This organization helps young people in cities learn about and get involved in art. He is the older brother of famous hip-hop figures Russell Simmons and Joseph Simmons (also known as "Reverend Run" from Run–D.M.C.).
Along with his brother Russell, Danny Simmons helped create Def Poetry Jam. This popular show featured poets performing their work and was shown on HBO. In 2004, Simmons wrote a book called Three Days As the Crow Flies. It tells a fictional story about the art scene in New York City during the 1980s.
In 2015, Danny Simmons moved to Philadelphia. There, he opened the Rush Arts Philadelphia gallery (RAP). This gallery helps to spread the mission of the Rush Arts Foundation. It also helps the organization reach more people across the country. In 2019, he opened RAP Gallery II, which shows solo art exhibitions and offers art education.
Today, Danny Simmons' artwork is displayed in many important places. These include the Brooklyn Museum, the Smithsonian, and the United Nations. His art has also been shown in countries like France, Amsterdam, and Ghana. In 2019, he joined the African American Collections Committee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
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Early Life and Education
Danny Simmons grew up in Hollis, Queens, a neighborhood in New York. His father, Daniel Simmons Sr., was a truancy officer and a professor of Black history. He also enjoyed writing poetry. Danny's mother, Evelyn Simmons, was a teacher who liked to paint as a hobby.
Danny went to college and earned a degree in social work from New York University. He later received a master's degree in public finance from Long Island University Brooklyn. In 2012, he was given an honorary PhD in fine arts from Long Island University. He started painting after realizing he did not enjoy his job with the Bureau of Child Support.
Danny Simmons' Artwork
Danny Simmons is an abstract expressionist painter. His artwork has been shown in many places across the United States. Important institutions like the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Schomburg Center for Black Culture display his pieces. His art is also part of collections at Chase Manhattan Bank, Deutsche Bank, and the United Nations.
Internationally, his work has been featured in France, Amsterdam, and Ghana. The Brooklyn Museum and the Smithsonian African American Museum have also shown his paintings. You can often see his artwork in the poetry books he has published. Danny Simmons also enjoys collecting African art and comic books. In 2019, he was asked to join the African American Collections Committee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About Def Poetry Jam
Danny Simmons played a very important part in creating and producing the popular HBO show Def Poetry Jam. He even won a Tony Award for the Broadway version of the show. Danny was the co-executive producer of Russell Simmons' Def Poetry. Episodes of the show were made for HBO from 2002 to 2007.
The idea for Def Poetry came from Danny's friends. In the early 1990s, they would gather and perform poetry at open mic nights in art galleries. These poets performed at places like the Nuyorican, Danny's home, and an art gallery in Manhattan. Danny then asked his younger brother Russell about expanding the "Def Jam" name in a new way. After many live events, Danny and his partners Stan Lathan, Bruce George, and Bob Sumner successfully launched "Def Poetry Jam." It became both a cable TV show and a play on Broadway.
Published Books
- Three Days As The Crow Flies (2003)
- I Dreamed My People Were Calling But I Couldn't Find My Way Home (2007)
- '85: A Graphic Novel (2008)
- The Brown Beatnik Tomes
- Deep in Your Best Reflection: Poems in 160 Characters (2015)
- The Return of Two ... Willie (2018)
See also
- List of artists from Brooklyn
