Biography
Robert Waltrip Short (September 15, 1924 – March 21, 2005) was an American cabaret singer and pianist, who interpreted songs by popular composers from the first half of the 20th century such as Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Richard A. Whiting, Vernon Duke, Noël Coward and George and Ira Gershwin.
Short also championed African-American composers of the same period such as Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, presenting their work not in a polemical way, but as simply the obvious equal of that of their white contemporaries.
Short's dedication to his great love – what he called the "Great American Song" – left him equally adept at performing the witty lyrics of Bessie Smith's "Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)" or Gershwin and Duke's "I Can't Get Started". Short stated his favorite songwriters were Ellington, Arlen and Kern, and he was instrumental in spearheading the construction of the Ellington Memorial in New York City. He was a friend of Tom Jobim and was present during the composer's final days in New York City.
Filmography
all 16
self 11
Movies 10
TV Shows 6
Voice 1
Narrator 1
James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket (2023)
Always at The Carlyle (2018)
Man of the Century (1999)
7th Heaven (1996)
For Love or Money (1993)
Frasier (1993)
Blue Ice (1992)
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story (1990)
Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (1990)
American Masters (1986)
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Hardhat & Legs (1980)
Roots: The Next Generations (1979)
The Love Boat (1977)
Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957)
Bobby Short at the Cafe Carlyle
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1924-09-15
Deathday2005-03-21 (80 years old)
Birth PlaceNew York City, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
AwardsLibrary of Congress Living Legend
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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