|
How can the Carolinas
claim her as one of our
own? Since 1991, she’s
been Reynolds Professor
of American Studies at
Wake Forest University
in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina, and has a
lovely home in this
appealing Southern town.
She’s called a global
renaissance woman, and
with good reason. In
1991, she was chosen to
write and read a poem in
honor of President
Clinton’s inauguration.
You can listen and watch
on YouTube, and be as
enthralled now as 20
years ago. Read more
about Dr. Angelou and
enjoy videos spanning
her career at
MayaAngelou.com.
“A bird doesn’t sing
because it has an
answer, it sings because
it has a song.” Maya
Angelou
Ben Bernanke
He’s currently
serving his second term
as Chairman of the
Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve
System and has
presided over one of the
most difficult economic
periods in recent
history. Prior to his
appointment, he was
Chairman of the
President’s Council of
Economic Advisors and
before that served the
Federal Reserve System
in a number of roles.
Dr. Bernanke also served
as a Professor of
Economics and Public
Affairs at Princeton
University. Married with
two children, he was
born in Augusta, GA, and
raised in the small town
of Dillon, in
northeastern South
Carolina. He attended
public schools and,
according to some
reports, earned money
before and during
college by working at
South of the Border, a
popular “highway oasis”
along Interstate 95.
Dr. Bernanke received
his B.A. in Economics in
1975 from Harvard (summa
cum laude) and a Ph.D.
in Economics in 1979
from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
David Brinkley -
Wilmington, NCStudio Lights:
Newscaster David
Brinkley, who worked for
ABC and NBC in a career
spanning half a century,
was born and grew up by
the North Carolina
coastal town of
Wilmington. While in
High School he wrote for
the Wilmington Morning
Star newspaper (now the
Star News). Today
Wilmington continues to
shine a light on rising
stars, with the largest
film production studio
east of Hollywood.
Explore this charming
area today:
Wilmington,
NC
James Brown -
Barnwell, SC
Godfather of
Soul: I Feel
Good!
South Carolina native
James Brown was the
high-energy Godfather of
Soul who was a master of
funk, R&B, disco and
rap. Over six decades,
he electrified
generations with his
riveting onstage
performances, and holds
the record for the most
hit singles on the
Billboard Hot 100 List
(despite never reaching
#1 on any of his songs).
Born James Joe Brown Jr.
on May 3, 1933, in
Barnwell, SC, he was
abandoned by his mother
at the age of four. He
was subsequently raised
by an aunt who lived in
Augusta Georgia and ran
a brothel. As a
youngster, he picked
cotton, worked odd jobs
and shined shoes, and at
age 12, began performing
for the soldiers at
nearby Fort Gordon.
James Brown had problems
which included drug
issues and a stint in
prison in the late 80s;
however, throughout his
career and beyond, he
had the ability to
electrify audiences with
his theatrical
performances, elaborate
bands and innovative
songs. He was a civil
rights activist,
philanthropist and
consummate performer.
Married four times, he
was survived by at least
four children at the
time of his death in
2006.
Brown was named as one
of the first inductees
into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame at its
inaugural induction
dinner in New York in
1986. In 1992, Brown was
awarded a Grammy
Lifetime Achievement
Award at the 34th annual
Grammy Awards. He was
also honored with a star
on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame. It is said that
Elvis Presley studied
tapes of his
performances in order to
emulate many of his
dance moves.
At the end of his
talented, turbulent
life, he lived in Beech
Island, SC.
 Chubby Checker
| Born October 3, 1941
Let’s Twist Again
(Like we did 50 years
ago)
Ernest Evans was born
in Gulley Springs, SC,
(or Gully Springs) a
tiny community near
Georgetown, SC. The son
of a tobacco farmer, the
family moved to the
projects of
Philadelphia, which is
where Ernest spent most
of his formative years.
He earned money on the
streets by shining
shoes, selling ice and
other small jobs. The
nickname, “Chubby,” came
from his hefty build.
(Seen him lately? That
moniker no longer fits –
he looks great.)
He used his natural gift
of imitation to
impersonate the styles
of his heroes – Fats
Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis,
and Elvis Presley.
Later, he began to make
records and after a few
minor hits, he really
broke out and became
known as the “King of
the Twist.” Of course,
the Twist virtually
revolutionized dance
culture (that’s when we
all learned the fun of
dancing apart, no
touching), and his
version of “The Twist”
stayed at the top of the
charts for 18 weeks.
In 2008, the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame gave
Chubby a special award.
In 2009, he toured
abroad to great success.
Today, the only artist
to have five albums in
the top 12 all at once
is still going strong.
Check out his website at
www.chubbychecker.com
to see what he’s up to
today.
Stephen Colbert -
Charleston, SCThe {early} Colbert
Report: Although
born in the nation’s
capital, political
satirist, writer,
comedian and television
host Stephen Colbert
grew up in Charleston,
SC, first on James
Island, and later in
town on well-known East
Bay Street. Since his
early days in the Holy
City’s Episcopal
Porter-Gaud School, he
has gone on to many
accomplishments, and
even attempted a 2008
presidential bid in his
home state (through
which he raised
thousands of dollars for
South Carolina schools).
Read more about the
allure of his hometown:
Charleston, SC.
John Coltrane
Musician. Born
in Hamlet, North
Carolina, John Coltrane
was surrounded by music
at an early age. He
joined the Navy as a
young man and played in
the U.S. Navy Band in
Hawaii. After his years
of service ended, he
played his tenor sax
with a number of notable
musicians, including
other Carolinians Dizzy
Gillespie and Thelonius
Monk. John Coltrane
influenced music in many
different genres and
musicians, most
especially in jazz. It
began during his
lifetime and continued
to grow after his death
at age 40. He inspired
an entire generation of
jazz musicians and music
lovers.
His evocative music is
still enjoyed by many
and was used in a number
of films, including “Mr.
Holland’s Opus,” “Jerry
McGuire” and “White
Nights.”
He was married to Alice
Coltrane and the two had
a son. Coltrane's son,
Ravi Coltrane, was named
after the great Indian
sitarist Ravi Shankar,
who was greatly admired
by Coltrane. He followed
in his father's
footsteps and is a
prominent contemporary
saxophonist.
 Howard Cosell
Controversial
American sports
journalist.
"What’s right
isn’t always popular.
What’s popular isn’t
always right.”
“Sports, the toy
department of human
life.”
“I’m just telling it
like it is.”
– Howard Cosell, 1918 -
1995
I must admit to
trepidations about
featuring the cocksure,
controversial American
sports journalist, but
after digging into his
biography and reading
about his life, I became
fascinated.
Howard William Cosell
was born in
Winston-Salem, North
Carolina. His accountant
father moved the family
to Brooklyn while Howard
was very young,
therefore, although the
Carolinas claim him as a
native son, his
personality was shaped
by life in Brooklyn.
A graduate of New York
University with a degree
in English, he earned
his law degree there as
well. A veteran of World
War II, he achieved the
rank of major and during
his service, married
Mary Edith Abrams.
After practicing law in
Manhattan, he followed
his heart and shifted
into full-time
broadcasting. His rise
to fame began as a
result of his coverage
of boxer Muhammad Ali’s
simultaneous ascent. The
two exchanged verbal
jabs, but developed a
mutual respect that
lasted for decades.
Controversial , and yet
…
He provided commentary
for many of boxing’s
biggest fights during
the 70s and early 80s,
and clashed with many in
the sports field. And
then came Monday night
football, where Cosell
reached the TV world in
prime time. His fame
grew and he became even
more outspoken. But, in
retrospect, in many
instances, the comments
were surprisingly
progressive. He
broadcast his horror at
a one-sided, brutal
fight, threatening to
leave the sport unless
the referee called the
game. Eventually, major
boxing reforms allowed
refs to do just that.
His infamous “Look at
that little monkey run!”
comment actually
occurred in various
versions, describing
both white and black
athletes. The
broadcaster was taken
aback by the cries of
racism, explaining that
he called his own
grandson a “little
monkey,” and it was a
term of affection.
Later, he chronicled his
disenchantment with his
fellow commentators in
the book he wrote, I
never played the game,
and was taken off the
schedule for the 1985
World Series.
Clearly, the man was a
champion of unpopular
causes, including Ali’s
conversion to Islam and
conscientious objector
status. He criticized
players and coaches,
attracting tons of hate
mail during his heyday.
At the end, he became a
caricature of himself,
bombastic, yet insecure.
He was enigmatic to the
extreme, in voice,
actions and commentary.
He was one of a kind.
Chris Daughtry -
Born December 26, 1979,
in Roanoke Rapids, NC
 Chris Daughtry became
famous because he almost
won the fifth season of
American idol. If the
crowd had voted, he
surely would have won,
and since that fourth
place finish when he
lost to Taylor Hicks,
he’s built a success
story that puts him
behind only Kelly
Clarkson and Carrie
Underwood in record
sales – and they won
their respective
seasons.
He was born in Roanoke
Rapids NC, and raised in
Lasker, a suburb which
has fewer than 50
households, according to
the most recent census.
At age 14, his family
moved to Palmyra
Virginia. Today, Chris,
his wife, Deanna, and
children, Hannah,
Griffin, Adalynn Rose
and Noah James, live in
Oak Ridge, North
Carolina, near
Greensboro. The small
community is known for
its horse culture, and
Daughtry is undoubtedly
its most famous
resident.
At age 16, he began to
take guitar lessons, and
sing, and performed with
rock bands in the area.
In high school, he
appeared in two stage
productions, The Wiz
and Peter Pan.
Some of his most
memorable songs include,
“Home” which he wrote
the day before he left
for American Idol
auditions, and “It’s not
Over” which gained
approval from critics as
well as the public. The
video for “Home” was
filmed in Greensboro,
while “It’s not Over”
was filmed in Queens,
NY.
During a recent
interview with People, Daughtry shared that the
responsibilities of
fatherhood have changed
him, adding that “Life
is about more than just
me. I’ve got a great
wife, great kids, and a
great life.”
May we add to that? He’s
got a great voice and
tells poignant tales in
his well-crafted lyrics
and melodies.
Discover more about
Greensboro.
Kristin Davis - Columbia, SCSex and the City - The Prequel:
Before taking the Big
Apple by storm, Sex and
the City star Kristin
Davis was living it up
in Columbia, SC. Born in
Colorado, she moved to
South Carolina’s capital
as a small child, and
later graduated from A.C.
Flora High School.
Today, surely Charlotte
and her SATC gal pals
would enjoy perusing
Devine Street, Five
Points and other
eclectic shopping places
about town ... Southern
girls do love to shop!
 James
Dickey - Poet, Educator
Two-Fisted Poet:
James Dickey was born in
Atlanta, but attended
Clemson University for a
year and lived for many
years in South Carolina.
He became one of our
own. At Clemson he
played football and
began to demonstrate
what The New York
Times called “a
fondness for risk and
action, taking up
canoeing, archery,
weight lifting and other
sports.” Early in his
career, he wrote
advertising copy to some
acclaim; however, after
the publication of his
first book, Into the
Stone, and Other Poems
(1960), he decided
to pursue poetry
full-time. In 1965, his
book, Buckdancer’s
Choice won the
National Book Award, and
the literary world began
to take notice.
And then came
Deliverance. If
you’re of a certain age,
you remember the horror
of that trip down the
Chattooga River, which
separates Georgia and
South Carolina. If not,
go rent the movie, and
look for Mr. Dickey in a
cameo role, playing the
sheriff, near the end of
the film.
The book, according to
the author, was the
result of many incidents
which happened to him
during canoe and
bow-hunting trips in the
North Georgia Mountains.
Some critics made
comparisons to Ernest
Hemingway, while others
likened him to Joseph
Conrad, author of Heart
of Darkness.
After joining the Army
Air Corps and flying
more than 100 missions
in the Pacific, he
returned to school,
majoring in English at
Vanderbilt University,
graduating magna cum
laude. A year spent in
Italy and a variety of
positions in a number of
schools preceded his
decision to settle in
Columbia, at the
University of South
Carolina, where he was
Poet in Residence and
known for hard-drinking
and attracting women. He
taught there from 1968
until 1997, and died
just six days after
teaching his last class.
His funeral was held on
the Horseshoe of the
University and attracted
a number of glitterati,
including Pat Conroy,
who spoke about him with
much admiration.
Dale Earnhardt & Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Kannapolis, NC
NASCAR Country:
Or, rather, “Earnhardt
Country,” is located
just outside of
Charlotte, NC. Legendary
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, and his son,
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,
hail from Kannapolis,
NC, and planted their
stock car racing roots
in the dirt of their
home state. The 2010
season kicks off next
months – are you ready?
Check out the NASCAR
scene and other
spectator sports in the
Carolinas here.
Roberta Flack – Black Mountain, NC
The First Time
Ever I Saw Your Face:
Soulful singer,
songwriter and musician
Roberta Flack hails from
the mountains of Western
NC and the small town of
Black Mountain, where she lived as a
small child.
Located near to
Asheville, today Black
Mountain offers gorgeous
scenery, outdoor
pursuits, eclectic shops
and galleries, and even
a Center for the Arts.
Ms. Flack, a notable
educator, would
certainly approve of the
Center’s many summer
camps and programs!
 Tyler Florence -
Chef, Author & Food
Network Star
Top Chef:
Chef Tyler Florence
hails from the South
Carolina upstate, where
he launched into the
culinary world as a
dishwasher at a
restaurant in his
hometown of Greenville,
SC.
After graduating from
the well-respected
culinary program at
Johnson& Wales
University, this young
talent embraced New York
City and quickly became
noticed and acclaimed as
a rising star. Food
Network recognized his
potential and for the
past 15 years, he’s been
a star. Currently, his
signature series,
“Tyler’s Ultimate” has a
devoted following.
Tyler is also a regular
guest on The Today Show,
CNN, The View, The
Tonight Show, Oprah,
Access Hollywood, Extra,
Good Morning America,
and more.
In July 2008, Tyler
opened his first kitchen
retail shop, The Tyler
Florence Shop, in Mill
Valley, Calif.
He is also co-creator of
Sprout, a baby food
company that focuses on
providing healthy food.
Here’s how he describes
this new passion: “As a
father, I am always
thinking of how I can
get my children to eat
healthy, even when time
is an issue. As a chef,
I want to treat them to
foods that are delicious
and create a great
relationship with a
variety of foods.
For my kids and for
yours, I co-created
Sprout, and my recipes
are designed to give our
children the healthy
ingredients and the
flavorful combinations
they deserve, for a
healthy relationship
with food from the
start.”
Carolinians still have
faint hopes that he
might someday feel
compelled to open a
restaurant in the town
of his birth. However,
after moving to the West
Coast, he’s putting down
substantial roots far
away.
In 2010, Tyler opened
his first signature
restaurant, Wayfare
Tavern, in San
Francisco's Financial
District. It features
“authentic American
dishes inspired by local
cuisine at the turn of
the 20th Century. and
has also restored the
historic El Paseo House
of Chops in Mill Valley,
California, where he
lives with his wife,
Tolan, and has three
children: sons, Miles,
13, and Hayden, 3, and
daughter, Dorothy, 1.
Explore its culinary
scene and more:
Greenville, SC
Charles E. Fraser
Developer of Sea
Pines Plantation.
Charles Fraser was a
real estate pioneer who
combined his love of
history and the
environment into a
vision which transformed
a tree-covered, sparsely
populated barrier island
off the coast of South
Carolina into Sea Pines
Plantation on Hilton
Head Island.
It became one of the
first projects to
combine golf and real
estate development in a
planned community; to
use covenants and deed
restrictions to protect
the environment; and one
of the first communities
which promoted
inter-generational
recreation.
He graduated
from the University of
Georgia and Yale Law
School, but abandoned
practice to spend a
lifetime creating
magnificent communities,
including Kiawah island
Resort, near
Charleston.
His friend, Margaret
Greer, said, “He was a
genius. You couldn’t
crawl into that mind.”
His brother, Joseph B.
Fraser, called him “one
of a kind,” adding,
“There aren’t many
people out there with
his vision.”
He was
honored by the Urban
Land Institute as a
recipient of a Heritage
Award, one of only five
ever presented by that
renowned organization.
For those who’ve visited
Hilton Head Island, the
design is based on a
Mediterranean village.
What many don’t know is
that the design of the
marina at Harbour Town
was changed to save an
ancient live oak, which
came to be known as the
Liberty Oak.
Mr. Fraser
died at age 73, as a
result of a boating
accident in the Turks
and Caicos Islands. He
is survived by his wife,
Mary, and two daughters,
and is buried next to
that tree he loved so
dearly.
Ava Gardner -
Smithfield, NC
The
Original Barefoot
Contessa: Tinseltown legend Ava
Gardner – famed for her
roles in movies such as
Show Boat, The Killers,
Mogambo and The Barefoot Contessa – was born in
1922 in Brogden, a rural
community near
Smithfield, NC. Today,
fans celebrate her
legacy at the Ava
Gardner Museum,
located in Smithfield.
The museum recently
announced that it has
been nominated for a
National Medal for
Museum and Library
Science, and the winner
will be announced in
October 2010 – good
luck!
 Leeza
Gibbons
She was born in
Hartsville, SC, the
daughter of Jean and
Carlos Gibbons. Her
father was a former
state superintendent of
education and antique
shop owner. Leeza was
raised in Irmo, SC, with
a sister, Camy, a
brother, Carlos, Jr.,
and a baby chimpanzee
named Martha. (Martha
eventually was taken to
Africa, where she was
released into a wildlife
preserve.)
She attended the
University of South
Carolina, where she
majored in Mass
Communications and
Journalism and was a
member of Delta Delta
Delta sorority.
Leeza is a natural
creative and hosted
Entertainment Tonight
and Extra, among other
programs. Eventually,
she hosted Leeza, a talk
show, from 1993 until
2000. In 2007, she
participated in Dancing
with the Stars. Leeza
continues her
entertainment career as
cohost of America Now,
but it is also in her
philanthropic pursuits
that she really shines.
Participating in
caregiving for her
mother, Jean, after she
was diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s Disease,
Leeza promised her
mother that she would
“tell her story and make
it count.” She did much
more than that.
Leeza created the Leeza
Gibbons Memory
Foundation providing
programs and services
for caregivers. A
signature program from
the foundation is
Leeza’s Place, “A Place
for Caregivers.” It’s a
community gathering
place and resource
center committed to
providing free support
services, resources and
programs for family
caregivers taking care
of loved ones with
memory disorders or
other chronic and/or
progressive illnesses.
She serves on a board in
California that oversees
stem cell research. She
received the Artistic
and Philanthropic
Visionary Award in 2009
from the Alfred Mann
Foundation for
Scientific Research. In
2009, she co-wrote a
book, Take Your
Oxygen First: Protecting
Your Health and
Happiness while Caring
for a Loved One with
Memory Loss.
Her newest book is
Take 2: Your guide to
Creating Happy Endings
and New Beginnings
and examines ways we can
stop and have a second
take to reinvent our
lives. She’s also
started a new
scrapbooking line,
because she believes in
the importance of
creating memories of
what has gone before.
Leeza Gibbons is the
mother of three and in
2011, married her fourth
husband, Steven Fenton.
Dizzy Gillespie -
Cheraw, SC
Dizzy Gillespie made
Cheraw reverberate with
musical sounds that
could only come from
genius. But he’s not the
only reason this small
town rocks! Find out
more.
Jonathan Green -
Beaufort, SCThe colorful and captivating art of South Carolina native
Jonathan Green offers a very personal view into a treasured and rarely seen African American culture of the Lowcountry
– Gullah. Born near
Beaufort, SC, Green’s engaging paintings celebrate his Gullah heritage, and his childhood memories literally come to life on the canvas. Intrigued? Learn more about
Gullah Culture.
 Andy Griffith -
Mount Airy, NC
Real life Mayberry:
Andy Griffith, one
of television’s favorite
lawmen and the moral
compass for a
generation, died July 3,
2012, in his home on
Roanoke Island, in the
Outer Banks of North
Carolina. The venerable
actor was known for his
folksy wisdom, which
drew heavily from his
real-life home town of
Mt. Airy. The sitcom
which bore his name
often used real names
and places from the area
around his home town.
But he was no hayseed.
The real-life Andy
Griffith was infinitely
more sophisticated than
Sheriff Andy. He was an
expert on wine, loved
Hollywood, and married
three times.
Those of a certain age
can remember favorite
episodes of The Andy
Griffith Show, in which
Andy saved Deputy
Sheriff Barney Fife from
himself, or taught Opie
a thing or two about
honorable living.
Today, Mt. Airy remains
a charming town in the
foothills of North
Carolina, easily
accessible and worth a
visit. The new Andy
Griffith Museum holds
the largest collection
of Andy Griffith
memorabilia collected by
his friend Emmett
Forrest.
The collection features
hundreds of items from
his life and career,
including props used in
The Andy Griffith Show
and Matlock, and given
by the actor. The Museum
is open seven days a
week throughout the
year, except
Thanksgiving and
Christmas, and the Gift
Shop features all things
Andy for that special
Andy Griffith fan.This
quintessential town in
the Blue Ridge foothills
exudes charm, from
Snappy Lunch to
wineries, hiking trails
and jazz music! Explore
its Hollywood-worthy
appeal here: Mount Airy,
NC
O. Henry – Greensboro, NC
The Gift of O. Henry:
Each year, as the
holidays draw near, we
revisit classic holiday
tales that have been
treasured by
generations. One such
favorite is The Gift of
the Magi, a short story
by North Carolina native
O. Henry (born William
Sydney Porter). Today,
in O. Henry’s hometown
of Greensboro
Greensboro,
you can even stay in the
O. Henry Hotel to enjoy the gracious hospitality of a by-gone era. Perhaps it will inspire you to pen your own story, too.
Hootie and the
Blowfish – Columbia, SC
Calling all fans of
Darius Rucker and
Hootie and the
Blowfish -- did you
know you can pay homage
to your favorite band
with a stroll down
Hootie Boulevard and a
visit to a new monument
in its honor? Yes, it's
true, and it's all in
the heart of Five Points
in
Columbia, SC. The quartet met in
town as freshmen at the
University of South
Carolina, where they say
guitarist Mark Bryan
overheard Mr. Rucker
singing in the dorm
showers. And the rest,
as they say, is history.
Chris Hughes
Co-founder,
Facebook. At 28,
most young men are just
beginning to find
themselves. By contrast,
Chris Hughes is
purposefully using the
fortune he made through
Facebook to make a
difference – long term.
Born in Hickory, NC, to
a traveling paper
salesman and a
schoolteacher, the young
man left home at 15 to
attend Phillips Academy,
in Andover, Mass.
Financial aid was a key
factor in the decision.
He did well and applied
to Harvard. After he
arrived on campus, life
changed. His roommate
assignment was Mark
Zuckerberg. Together
with another student,
Dustin Moskovitz, the
trio founded Facebook,
and their fortunes took
a meteoric turn upward.
Along the way, Mr.
Hughes graduated from
Harvard, Magna Cum
Laude, with a Bachelor
of Arts in history and
literature.
Since leaving Facebook
in 2007, Mr. Hughes has
moved to New York, and
devoted himself to his
passions, including
spearheading the social
networking organization
of President Obama’s
2008 presidential
campaign. He recently
purchased The New
Republic, a
well-respected magazine
founded in 1914 which
covers liberal issues,
politics and arts. He is
following in the
footsteps of other
wealthy philanthropists
to devote his time and
influence to foster
awareness of issues such
as economic and
education reform. An
avid supporter of gay
rights, he and his
fiancé, Sean Eldridge,
plan to marry soon.
Andrew Jackson – South Carolina
Old Hickory
Country: Our
nation’s 7th president,
Andrew Jackson, hails
from South Carolina, and
the area surrounding his
boyhood home is now
Andrew Jackson State
Park, one of the park
service’s most popular
attractions. Spanning
360 acres, the park
includes a museum
(Docents in period garb?
Check!), trails and a
fishing lake. Plus,
don’t miss a replica of
a one-room, 18th century
schoolhouse!
Learn more: Andrew
Jackson State Park
Jasper Johns – South Carolina
American contemporary artist
Jasper Johns has many
ties to South Carolina.
Born in 1930 in August,
GA, he spent his early
life with his
grandparents in
Allendale, SC (after the
failure of his parents’
marriage). During his
childhood, he lived in
Columbia, on the shores
of nearby Lake Murray,
and in Sumter. He
attended the University
of South Carolina for
three semesters, then
moved to New York City.
In 2006, private
collectors Anne and
Kenneth Griffin bought
Johns’ [False Start] for
$80 million, making it
the most expensive
painting by a living
artist. Jasper Johns
currently spends his
time between Sharon
Connecticut and the
Caribbean island of
Saint Martin and
continues to produce
several paintings each
year. In SC, the
Greenville Museum of Art
has several of his
paintings in their
permanent collection.
Michael Jordan –
Wilmington, Chapel Hill
and Charlotte, NC
Roundball! With basketball
season in full swing,
our thoughts go to famed
NBA star and adopted son
of North Carolina
Michael Jordan. The
Jordan Family moved to
Wilmington, NC when Michael was a toddler,
and he later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where his
stellar performance on
the basketball team
earned him his spot with
the Chicago Bulls.
Today, Mr. Jordan
maintains his ties with
NC, and is a majority
owner of the Charlotte
Bobcats, in
Charlotte,
NC. Let’s Go Cats!
Eartha Kitt - North,
SCThat voice:
The
Tony, Grammy and Emmy
Award-nominated Eartha
Kitt was born in the
small town of North,
South Carolina, not far
from the state capital
of Columbia. From her
humble beginnings, her
distinctive voice and
talent took her around
the world. Today she
would surely approve of
her hometown area’s vast
cultural and art
opportunities. It’s a
place worth exploring:
Columbia, SC
Sugar Ray Leonard
Olympic Gold
Medalist, World Champion
Boxer & so much more
Born in 1956 in
Rocky Mount, North
Carolina, and the fifth
of seven children, Sugar
Ray Leonard’s
competition on Dancing
with the Stars in 2011
might have been his
first introduction to a
younger generation, but
baby boomers know him
well.
The attractive, affable
Leonard began boxing at
14. After moving from
Rocky Mount to
Wilmington, NC, his
family headed north and
lived in Washington,
D.C., for seven years
before settling
permanently in Maryland.
Young Leonard won the
Olympic Gold Medal at
the 1976 Games, and then
turned pro, where he
became world
welterweight boxing
champion several times
and eventually was named
to the International
Boxing Hall of Fame.
Since his final
retirement, he has
worked as a boxing
analyst, done a number
of commercial
endorsements, and worked
as an actor. He is
sought after as a
motivational speaker
using the theme Power
(Prepare, Overcome, and
Win Every Round).
Leonard and his wife,
Bernadette, founded the
Sugar Ray Leonard
Foundation to support
the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation and
he remains active in
working toward a cure.
Andie MacDowell -
Gaffney, SC
Hometown Favorite:
Golden Globe nominated
actress and model Andie
MacDowell is a local
favorite. Now a North
Carolina resident, she
was born in Gaffney, SC,) attended Winthrop
University (the college)
in Rock Hill, and also
lived in Columbia.
For a touch with
stardom, plan a stay at
the charming Blake House
Inn,
in Arden, NC, which once
belonged to Ms.
MacDowell’s family.
Hint: The actress’s
childhood graffiti can
still be found in the
closet of the Holly
Room.
Ronald McNair
Astronaut.
Lake City, South
Carolina, is a small
town, formed in the
1700s when trails were
followed and settlers
built farms in the sandy
soil. The railroad came,
roads criss-crossed, and
strawberries, beans and
other crops flourished
in the area.
Ronald McNair’s hometown
was fairly typical of
the South, and in the
late 50s, the bright
young boy had difficulty
finding the books to
fuel his dream of
traveling in space. The
local librarian overcame
her reluctance to
release books to the
African-American child,
and Ron was off on his
own exploration. A
graduate of North
Carolina A&T University,
he earned a Ph.D. in
Physics from MIT and
joined the astronaut
program. He traveled in
space – and played his
saxophone during the
trip.
His second space flight
resulted in tragedy when
the space shuttle
Challenger exploded
shortly after take-off.
Although his life was
cut short, it served as
inspiration for many
young men who believed
in themselves, including
Charles Bolden, another
SC native and
African-American who
serves as head of NASA.
Learn more about the
extraordinary
accomplishments of
Ronald McNair.
Robert Mills
Architect.
This talented South
Carolinian was born in
Charleston in 1781, and
is considered by many to
be the first native-born
American to become a
professional architect.
He studied under the
Irish architect James
Hoban (who later
designed the White
House). He also studied
in Philadelphia under
Benjamin Henry Latrobe
and knew Thomas
Jefferson, who helped
teach him an
appreciation for classic
design.
In 1823, he was
appointed superintendent
of public buildings in
South Carolina and for
several years afterward
designed a number of
buildings in the state,
including the University
of South Carolina
campus, courthouses in
at least 18 counties and
homes, many of which are
standing today.
He is perhaps best known
for the design of the
Washington Monument but
also designed the
Department of the
Treasury building.
Robert Mills was an
early advocate of
fireproofing
construction to the
extent possible in those
times. He died in 1855
and is buried in the
Congressional Cemetery.
Classic Jazz:
Listening to some of Thelonius
Monk’s standards such as
Round About Midnight,
or Straight, No Chaser, makes you want to hop on the Silver Meteor and ride the rails to the smoky jazz bars in Manhattan. Chances are you’ve heard his distinctive sound as hard-driving background music on classic jazz radio stations, or in urban clubs.
The man’s Carolina roots are shallow, but we’ll claim him anyway. Born in 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in 1922, Thelonius moved with his family to West 63rd Street in Manhattan. He began to play piano at six and was largely self-taught. A high school dropout, he began to find work in jazz clubs in his late teens and developed quite a following during his years as house pianist at Minton’s Playhouse, a Manhattan nightclub.
A contemporary of Dizzy Gillespie (another Carolina musician). Kenny Clarke, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, Thelonius is considered a founder of bebop, although his style evolved away from that sound, and settled into remarkable improvisations that stunned listeners and all who would try to copy his work.
His later years were
haunted by whispers of
mental illness, and he
largely relied on the
support of Baroness Pannonica "Nica" de Koenigswarter,
a member of the Rothschild family and a patroness of several New York City jazz musicians.
He had a number of run-ins with police over illegal drugs and quit performing for years before his death. Thelonius Monk was married and had two children, both living.
Early recordings of live performances of his most notable work can be enjoyed on YouTube, which also showcases his love of hats and sunglasses.
General Brigadier Francis Marion,
aka the “Swamp Fox,” is still disliked by British historians who’ve called him a “terrorist” for the manner in which he fought for American Independence.
Here in the United States, historians call him the “father of modern guerilla warfare,” a term that fits with his strike-and-run method of attack.
He was born in Georgetown, SC in 1732 to French Huguenots, a grandson of Benjamin Marion who moved from France to what would become South Carolina in 1690. His first military successes came during the region’s expedition against the Cherokee. Later, he was a delegate to the SC Provincial Congress.
Promotions in the military came swiftly, and after a fortuitous broken ankle which prevented his capture by the British, he began his campaign to fight for independence in a most unorthodox way.
His band of men included Native Americans, Africans and white farmers who picked up arms and followed him. They disrupted communications, pilfered arms, food and other supplies, and raided British forces almost non-stop.
Marion participated in the Battle of King’s Mountain, which helped turn the tide of war in the south in favor of the Americans. After he was appointed Brigadier General of the SC Militia, he and his forces raided Georgetown and captured Fort Watson and Fort Motte. The man knew how to wage a most successful military campaign against the most conventional forces of men like Banastre Tarleton, who called him “that wily ole fox of the swamps.”
Actually, the swamps were familiar territory to Marion, who understood how to maneuver through them without harm. South Carolinians consider him a hero, in part because he was instrumental in helping to turn around the war which led to American independence.
General Marion’s militiamen re-built his home after the Revolution. At age 53, he married Mary Esther Videau. The couple lived at Pond Bluff, on the south edge of the Santee Swamp. With Oscar, (his lifelong servant who fought beside him in battle) the Marions frequently traveled to former battle sites. On Feb. 27, 1795 Marion, age 62, died at his home at Pond Bluff, presently under Lake Marion, and is buried at Belle Isle, near the town of St. Stephen.
Visitors remain fascinated by the Swamp Fox. The Swamp Fox Murals Trails Society helped to created murals depicting various events in the life of General Marion. Murals are sprinkled in appropriate locations throughout the area bordered by Lake Marion in the Southeastern section of the state.
Geo-caching is one popular way to located this portrayals of history. Visit SwampFoxTrails.com for directions and fascinating stories, as well as information about the upcoming Living History Encampment.
Celebrate General Francis Marion Rev. War Living History Encampment February 22-23, 2013 in Manning SC.
Nicholas Sparks -
New Bern & Southport, NC
Dark secrets,
Love’s passion:
Safe Haven, a
Nicholas Spark novel,
explores life, set in
Southport, NC, a
historic coastal
community in North
Carolina. That this
beloved novelist
captures the mood and
setting of coastal North
Carolina is no accident.
He lives in
New Bern, NC, and
pulls expansively from
the area in setting his
stories of love, loss
and new beginnings.
Edward R. Murrow -
Greensboro, NC"Good night, and good
luck": This
is Greensboro, North
Carolina, birthplace of
pioneering broadcast
journalist Edward R. Murrow. He was born just
outside of town, in
Guilford County, and
today the city boasts a
“Murrow Boulevard” and
statue of the longtime
CBS journalist at the
Greensboro Historical
Museum, among other
tributes. Explore this
thriving business and
cultural community:
Greensboro, NC
James Taylor - Chapel
Hill, NC
In My Mind I’m
Goin’ to Carolina:
Singer-Songwriter
James Taylor has his
roots firmly planted in
the Carolinas, where he
moved to at the tender
age of three when his
father accepted a
position at the
University of North
Carolina School of
Medicine. His family
made their home in
Carrboro, North
Carolina, near Chapel
Hill, where he learned
to play the cello as a
child before later
switching to the guitar.
Today, his memorable
“Carolina In My Mind” is
an anthem here. “Can’t
you see the sunshine?”
Why yes, we do.
Randy Travis - North
Carolina
Country Crooner:
Years before Nashville,
Country Music Star Randy
Travis called North
Carolina home. He was
born there (as Randy
Bruce Traywick) in 1959,
and his father’s dream
was for his second child
to become a country
music singer. At age 16
he entered a talent show
hosted by Country City
USA of
Charlotte
and after winning was
invited to become a Club
regular. The rest, as
they say, is history!
Vanna White - North
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wheel of {Good}
Fortune: Vanna White made her
debut on Wheel of
Fortune in December
1982, becoming the first
female co-host of a game
show. Before basking in
the glow of lettered
puzzle boards, however,
she was a Carolina Girl
growing up in North
Myrtle Beach, SC. Today
the resort area of
Myrtle Beach offers its
fair share of excitement
and entertainment.
Explore this area of
family fun: Greater
Myrtle Beach
 Thomas
Wolfe - Writer
Can You Go Home
Again? Thomas
Wolfe, 1900-1938,
arguably considered
North Carolina’s most
famous writer, was born
in 1900, in Asheville,
the son of a stonecutter
and his third wife. He
grew up in his mother’s
downtown boarding house,
and was identified as an
exceptional student as
well as a bit of a
misfit from his early
school years.
He entered the
University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
when he was 15. He
graduated, went to
Harvard, and then moved
on to New York where he
took a job teaching at
New York University. (We
told you he was smart.)
During a trip to Europe
in 1926, he began
writing about his
memories of Asheville,
which did not endear him
to the locals, but did
offer more than ample
fodder for what would
become Look Homeward
Angel: A Story of the
Buried Life.
It is said that William
Faulkner considered him
one of the finest
writers of his time and
is famously quoted as
saying the author, "put
all the experience of
the human heart on the
head of a pin."
Bigger than life –
physically and
emotionally, he wrote
from the heart and soul
and writers everywhere
have been profoundly
influenced by his work.
You Can’t Go Home Again
is a novel published
posthumously in 1940 and
was pulled from his huge
unpublished manuscript
which he had titled, The
October Fair. That title
has become a part of
American speech and is
used frequently to
explain the
impossibility of
returning to the place
of childhood and
youthful memories. At
some level, we all
understand that you
really can’t go home
again.
Thomas Wolfe never
married, but enjoyed an
intense affair with an
older woman, Aline
Bernstein. He wrote
poems, plays, short
stories and novels. He
died in 1938 of military
tuberculosis of the
brain.
Learn more about one of
our favorite playgrounds
and the setting for Look
Homeward Angel –
Asheville.
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