Cicely Tyson

Posted in Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx) with tags , on June 29, 2026 by Cade

December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021

A legend of the stage and screen, Cicely Tyson was a trailblazing performer whose career spanned more than 70 years. Born and raised in New York City, Tyson wanted to be an actor from an early age. She was brought up in a religious home and her parents were initially reluctant for her to enter the profession…until they saw her perform.

Tyson studied under the renowned acting coach, Lee Strassberg. She got her first part at a YMCA production of Dark of the Moon. In 1961, she appeared in Jean Genet’s The Blacks opposite an array of future stars including Louis Gossett, Jr., Maya Angelou, Roscoe Lee Brown and an actor Tyson would go on to perform with many times over the decades, James Earl Jones. The Blacks ran off-Broadway for a record-setting 1,408 performances.

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Johnny Hodges

Posted in Flushing Cemetery with tags , , on June 22, 2026 by Cade

July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970

When Charlie Parker and John Coltrane – arguably two of the most influential and beloved saxophone players of all time – both point to one man as being the best, it’s probably a good idea not to argue.

Johnny Hodges was born and raised in Boston. He played piano and drums as a kid, but eventually, it was the sax that found its way into his soul. Impressing everyone he played for, Hodges made his way to New York City in his late teens where he met up with one, Mr. Duke Ellington.

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Marvin Hamlisch

Posted in Mt. Zion Cemetery (NY) with tags , , on June 15, 2026 by Cade

June 2, 1944 – August 6, 2012

In the entertainment industry, there is an accomplishment that only a handful of people have been able to attain. The industry loves to reward its members with awards like Emmys (TV), Grammys (Music), Oscars (Movies) and Tonys (Broadway). Only an elite few artists have won all four; collectively known as the “EGOT.”

By the time composer Marvin Hamlisch was 30, he had already won two of the four.

And that was BEFORE he even gave us his most monumental work.

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Lionel Hampton

Posted in Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx) with tags , , on June 8, 2026 by Cade

April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002

Lionel Hampton was one of the biggest names in jazz for nearly all of his 75 year career. A percussionist, Hampton started out as a drummer in Chicago while he was still a teenager. He moved to California, where he wowed audiences with his energetic drumming and acrobatic drumstick moves at venues like Sebastian’s Cotton Club. At the age of 22, he was starting to expand his repertoire when a visiting Louis Armstrong overheard him practicing the vibraphone, liked what he heard and offered Hampton a job.

And when Louis Armstrong says you’re a vibraphonist, brother, you’re a vibraphonist.

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Celia Cruz

Posted in Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx) with tags , on June 1, 2026 by Cade

October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003

Dubbed the “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz was one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time. In her spectacular career, Cruz sold more than 30 million records and was nominated for 14 Grammys (winning 2), 7 Latin Grammys (winning 4) and dozens of other awards. In 1994, the United States Congress awarded her the National Medal of Arts. She was honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Hispanic Heritage Awards, Desi Entertainment, Musa de Oro, the Recording Academy of the United States (Grammys) and the Smithsonian Institute….twice.

Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. According to her mother, Celia sang from the moment she could make sounds. Growing up in 1930s Havana meant exposure to the burgeoning Cuban Band scene. Her aunt would often take Celia and her cousin to local cabarets to sing. Her father didn’t approve…but, recognizing the talent, he didn’t try too hard to stop her, either. Celia made an attempt at what her family considered a “respectable” career as a teacher…but the music called.

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Dizzy Gillespie

Posted in Flushing Cemetery with tags , , on May 25, 2026 by Cade

October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993

There were trumpet players in jazz before Dizzy Gillespie. And there were trumpet players after Dizzy Gillespie. But, before or since, there was never another trumpet player LIKE Dizzy Gillespie.

John Birks Gillespie grew up in South Carolina with a bandleader father and regular access to musical instruments. John taught himself how to play trombone, piano and – of course – the trumpet. When his family relocated to Philadelphia, Gillespie began to find work in professional bands. When he was 22, he joined Cab Calloway‘s band, where he spent two years flourishing and perfecting his unique soloing style before ultimately stabbing Calloway in the leg. Seriously.

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Diahann Carroll

Posted in Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx) with tags , , on May 18, 2026 by Cade


July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019

Golden Globe and Tony winning actress, Diahann Carroll, likely didn’t intend to spend her career kicking down barriers, but that’s exactly what she did. Her 1962 Tony win for No Strings was the first time an African American actress had won the category. Her Golden Globe win in 1968 was for the title role in the television series, Julia, which was the first starring role for a black woman that was not a domestic worker or servant.

In 1963, Carroll received her first Emmy nomination (for Naked City) – again, one of the first for a black actress. And in 1996, she played the role of traditionally-white character, Norma Desmond, in a Toronto production of Sunset Boulevard.

And those are just the groundbreaking accolades.

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Ace Frehley

Posted in Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx) with tags , , on May 11, 2026 by Cade

April 27, 1951 – October 16, 2025

Paul “Ace” Frehley was the lead guitarist and a founding member of the renowned rock band, KISS. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, Frehley came from a family of musicians and sought out rock and roll as an alternative to getting pulled into street gang life in his neighborhood. Frehley’s career in music started early as he joined his first band in high school. He played in a half dozen bands in New York City in the late 1960s and early ’70s. In 1972, he answered an ad in the Village Voice that was seeking  a guitarist for a new band. The audition went well and Frehley joined Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss on a new rock and roll endeavor. The foursome eventually settled on the name KISS.

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Tony Bennett

Posted in Calvary Cemetery (NY) with tags , on May 4, 2026 by Cade

August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023

In December of 2008, in a theater outside of Boston, an 82 year-old man stood on the stage – arms spread out almost as wide as the smile across his face – enwrapped in a moment and basking in the glow of…affection from the hundreds of fans surrounding him, yes, but also, what could only be described as “complete and absolute contentment.”

I only got to see Tony Bennett perform live that one time, but it was pure joy. He was clearly as happy to be there as we were to be there with him. The delight was palpable and contagious. Even if he never sang a note, we would have had an amazing night…just basking in his secondhand happiness.

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Louis Armstrong

Posted in Flushing Cemetery with tags , , on April 27, 2026 by Cade

August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971

An argument can be made – and made well – that Louis Armstrong is the single most important figure in American music. While the likes of Elvis, MJ and Aretha “merely” excelled at their respective genres, Armstrong introduced his to the world. Of course, no one person can be credited with creating jazz, but the uniquely American music genre  can certainly trace its roots to New Orleans…and Louis Armstrong was right there at the start.

Born and raised in poverty in the Big Easy, Armstrong’s early life was peppered with struggle. He was arrested at the age of 11 and sent to live in a reform school for black boys. While at the desolate school, Armstrong joined the band and learned to play the cornet.

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