Description:
Bobby Short was an attraction at Manhattan's Cafe Carlyle for three decades (he doubtless got his greatest exposure there in a scene from Woody Allen's film Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)). Short is the quintessential New Yorker, the Fred Astaire of saloon singers, an international icon of style and glamour.
Birthday
September 15, 1924
Born In
Danville, Illinois, USA
Trivia
In the 1950s, Cole Porter heard Short play his work, and - although badly crippled - made his way across the room at the Carlyle to thank him personally. On the 100th anniversary of Porter's birth, the family presented Short with their 'You're the Top Award' for his outstanding contributions to the composer's legend.
Quotes
A young man told me, 'How dare you insult your race by not singing the
blues?' I still get feedback about that. I'm a 76-year-old black man
living in a white society; I've gone through the medley. I'd like to
think my legacy included having done something positive to help
eliminate the problems between races. I never let racism into the core
of me.
