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 Simmons Jr. is a talented artist, author, and poet. He is known for his unique style of painting called Neo-African abstract expressionism. He also helps many people through his charity work.
Daniel is the older brother of famous hip-hop producer Russell Simmons and rapper Joseph Simmons (also known as "Reverend Run" from Run–D.M.C.). Together with his brothers, Daniel co-founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. This amazing organization helps young people in cities get access to art education and experiences.
He also started Rush Arts Philadelphia and RAP Gallery II, which is a new art gallery and education center that opened in 2019. Daniel used to be on the board of important places like the Brooklyn Museum and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Along with his brother Russell, Daniel helped create Def Poetry Jam. This popular poetry show was a big hit on HBO. In 2004, Daniel published his book, Three Days As the Crow Flies. It tells a fictional story about the art scene in New York during the 1980s.
In 2015, Daniel moved to Philadelphia. There, he opened the Rush Arts Philadelphia gallery (RAP). This helped to spread the Rush Arts mission across the country. His artworks are displayed in many famous places. These include the Brooklyn Museum, The Smithsonian, and the United Nations. His art has also been shown in France, Amsterdam, and Ghana. In 2019, he joined the African American Collections Committee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Growing Up and Learning
Daniel Simmons Jr. 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 wrote poetry. Daniel's mother, Evelyn Simmons, was a teacher who enjoyed painting as a hobby.
Daniel went to New York University and earned a degree in social work. Later, he got a master's degree in public finance from Long Island University Brooklyn. He started painting after he realized he didn't like his job at the Bureau of Child Support. In 2012, Long Island University gave him an honorary PhD in fine arts.
His Amazing Artwork
Daniel Simmons is an abstract expressionist painter. His art has been shown all over the country. Important places like Chase Manhattan Bank, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the United Nations have his work in their collections. His paintings have also traveled internationally. They have been displayed in France, Amsterdam, and Ghana.
Both the Brooklyn Museum and the Smithsonian African American Museum have featured his art. You can often see his paintings in the books of poetry he has published. Daniel also loves collecting African art and comic books. In 2019, he was asked to join the African American Collections Committee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Def Poetry Jam
Daniel Simmons played a key role in creating and co-producing the popular HBO show Def Poetry Jam. He even won a Tony Award for the Broadway version of the show! Daniel 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 the series came from Daniel's friends. They would gather and perform poetry at open mic nights in art galleries during the early 1990s. These poets performed at different places, including Daniel's home and an art gallery in Manhattan. Daniel then asked his younger brother Russell about expanding the "Def Jam" name in a new way. After many more live events, Daniel and his partners, Stan Lathan, Bruce George, and Bob Sumner, successfully launched "Def Poetry Jam" as both a TV show and a Broadway play.
Books He Has Written
- 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 Dick Willie (2018)
See also
- List of artists from Brooklyn
