A big voice and more
As a teenager, I probably discovered Trinidad and Tobago-born Geoffrey Holder in the 1970s on a 7-Up soft drink commercial — as many living in America did. But, this true Renaissance man came with a well of achievements as deep as his melodic bass voice. Over time, I would learn that the grandeur and stature of the man was a perfect fit for his many amazing accomplishments.
I was unhappy, but not surprised, to see many headlines sum up the internationally renowned Holder’s life into a role in the James Bond movie “Live and Let Die.” And I hope it’s not contradictory for me to love Holder’s heavenly accented Caribbean bass tones praising the qualities of 7-Up, “the Un-Cola,” in the soft drink’s long-running and successful ad campaign. I simply loved to hear him speak and was pleased have his huge voice, ever-present accent and his colossal presence on the small screen.
As far as headlines go, I preferred the People.com title, “Geoffrey Holder, Dancer, Choreographer, Actor, Artist, Has Died.” From the beginning, in the middle and right up to end, Geoffrey Holder was so much more than just a Bond adversary or a pitchman for a soda company. He was truly grand.
He was also known for winning Tony Awards for Best Director and Choreography for “The Wiz” on Broadway; his stint as a principal dancer with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New York; and his work as an accomplished painter, author and world famous choreographer and actor.
Obituaries worldwide have chronicled his many accomplishments, but for more of the many facets of Holder, try these sources: l A When Steel Talks website interview with Holder sharing some of his thoughts about the steel drum at http://bit.ly/Holderinterview; l “Carmen and Geoffrey,” the 2005 Linda Atkinson and Nick Doob documentary about Holder and his wife, dancer/choreographer Carmen de Lavallade. It is available on Amazon.com. l And then there’s the moving account of Holder and his last minutes of life from his son, Leo: http://bit.ly /Leo Holderrecalls.
On the run for Haiti
With a little help from their friends and a dash of star power, “The Long Run for Haiti” campaign will again raise money to aid reconstruction efforts in the Caribbean nation by participating in the TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 2.
The J/P Haitian Relief Organization — founded by popular actor/activist Sean Penn — is mounting the fundrais- ing run, which last year helped raise close to $300,000 through the CrowdRise online fundraising website. The J/P HRO funds aid health care, education, construction and help bring permanent housing for survivors of devastating 2010 earthquake.
This year’s core group of elite J/P HRO team runners — Bertine Lainé, 32; Carline Lamour, 22; Astrel Clovis, 44; Pétrus Césarion, 28; and Jean Macksony, 32 — will be joined by on a myriad of racers, including “Desperate Housewives” actress Teri Hatcher and Adriana Henao, girlfriend of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Season 5 Dancing with the Stars champion Helio Castroneves.
For information, visit www.jphro.org and follow J/P HRO on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/JPHRO.
There’s ‘Gold’ in Brooklyn
“Demerara Gold,” Guyanese playwright and performer Ingrid Griffith’s one-woman play about a young girl and domestic abuse, is back!
The play — which premiered at the Midtown International Theatre Festival this past summer — will be staged on Oct. 17 and 18 in Brooklyn at A.R.T./NYSouth Oxford Space, 138 South Oxford St. (between Atlantic Ave. and Fulton St.). Showtime is 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25 online, $30 at the door and $20 for students with valid ID. For tickets, visit www.demgol dshowtix.eve ntbrite.com.