François Clemmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François Clemmons
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Clemmons in Oberlin College's 1967 yearbook
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| Born |
François Scarborough Clemmons
April 23, 1945 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
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| Alma mater | |
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| Years active | 1968–2013 |
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Notable credit(s)
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Officer Clemmons in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood |
| Spouse(s) |
Carol Clemmons
(div. 1974) |
François Scarborough Clemmons, born on April 23, 1945, is an American singer, actor, writer, and teacher. Many people know him as "Officer Clemmons" from the popular children's TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He was on the show from 1968 to 1993.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Clemmons was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. When people found out he had a wonderful singing voice, he started performing. He sang at church events in his local area. By age 10, he became the choir director for his church.
His first songs were "spirituals." These are special songs from before the American Civil War. His mother taught them to him. Soon, he sang many different types of music. He performed with various community groups. For a time, he was the main singer for a rock 'n' roll band called the Jokers.
Clemmons studied music in college. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College. He also received a Master of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. Later, he was given an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Middlebury College.
Singing at the Metropolitan Opera
In 1968, Clemmons won a big singing competition. It was for the Metropolitan Opera in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio. There, he earned a spot in the Metropolitan Opera Studio.
He sang professionally for seven seasons. He performed in over 70 different roles. He sang with famous groups like The New York City Opera. He also performed with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. Clemmons sang with many orchestras too. These included the Cleveland Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
In 1976, he won a Grammy Award. This was for a recording of the opera Porgy and Bess. He played the role of "Sportin' Life" more than 100 times.
Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
For 25 years, Clemmons played Officer Clemmons. He was a kind neighborhood policeman. This was on the children's TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. On the show, Officer Clemmons ran a singing and dance studio. It was across the street from Mister Rogers' house.
He was one of the first African Americans to have a regular role on a children's TV show. His character was important. He was a beloved neighbor and a respected authority figure. This sent a powerful message about race relations.
For example, in 1969, some public swimming pools were still separated by race. But on the show, Mister Rogers invited Officer Clemmons to cool his feet. They shared a small plastic wading pool. Mister Rogers gave Officer Clemmons a towel. Then he used the same towel to dry his own feet. This simple act helped break down a well-known color barrier. Clemmons shared the story of becoming "Officer Clemmons" on StoryCorps.
The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble
In the late 1980s, Clemmons had a moving experience. He was singing spirituals with a friend. Spirituals are a type of song created by African Americans. He felt a strong desire to preserve these important songs.
He wanted to find a group dedicated to this goal. When he couldn't find one, he decided to create it himself. He formed The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble. This group worked to keep American Negro spirituals alive.
Teaching at Middlebury College
From 1997 until he retired in 2013, Clemmons taught at Middlebury College. This college is in Middlebury, Vermont. He was the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence. He also directed the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir.
He was a professor, choirmaster, and vocal soloist. He also advised students and supported the community. He is well-known in Middlebury for his amazing singing of "The Star Spangled Banner." He sings it at the Middlebury College men's basketball games.
Writing and Arranging
On May 15, 2020, Clemmons published his autobiography. It is called Officer Clemmons: A Memoir. An autobiography is a book about a person's own life.
Clemmons writes different types of books for all ages. He is currently writing a children's story. It is titled ButterCup and the Majic Cane. He is also writing a book of poems called A Place of my Own.
His published works include a book of spirituals. It is named Songs for Today. He also wrote a stage musical called My Name Is Hayes. This musical is based on the life of Roland Hayes, a famous singer. He also asked for a special choral work to be created. It is made of spirituals and is called Changed My Name. Linda Twine arranged the music for it.
Later Life and Work
Clemmons lives and works in Middlebury, Vermont. He is now the Emeritus Artist in Residence of Middlebury College. This means he is a retired artist who still has a special connection to the college. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. This is a national group for men in music.
In 2021, Clemmons recorded three spirituals. These were part of an audio drama called Around The Sun. He said, "My character is like a long-distance runner in New York City... The story shows things a person goes through during a lifetime... It was powerful." In 2023, Clemmons returned to the series. He sang a jug-band style version of "The Arthropod Song."
Dr. Clemmons continues his life's work. He often makes public appearances and performs concerts.
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