Al Hassan, who had a 40-year-plus career as a road manager for the likes of Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé, Tony Danza and Jim Stafford, died April 12 in Washington, his family announced. He was 87.
Hassan’s job took him across the U.S. and to Canada, Africa, Asia and Europe as he also supported Leif Garrett, Susan Anton and Nana Mouskouri, among many other entertainers.
The fifth of six children, Albert LeRoy Hassan was born on Dec. 2, 1936, and raised in the steel town of New Castle, Pennsylvania. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for three years, then graduated from the University of Maryland with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theater.
In college, Hassan worked with football coach Tom Nugent and was involved in the effort to recruit Joe Namath, a star high school quarterback and fellow Pennsylvanian from Beaver Falls. Namath did sign with...
Hassan’s job took him across the U.S. and to Canada, Africa, Asia and Europe as he also supported Leif Garrett, Susan Anton and Nana Mouskouri, among many other entertainers.
The fifth of six children, Albert LeRoy Hassan was born on Dec. 2, 1936, and raised in the steel town of New Castle, Pennsylvania. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for three years, then graduated from the University of Maryland with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theater.
In college, Hassan worked with football coach Tom Nugent and was involved in the effort to recruit Joe Namath, a star high school quarterback and fellow Pennsylvanian from Beaver Falls. Namath did sign with...
- 4/26/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Editor’s note: If you have watched the Netflix docu The Greatest Night in Pop, you saw the 40 biggest singers of the ’80s break into a spontaneous chorus of “Day-o” in tribute to Harry Belafonte for organizing the “We Are the World” global fundraiser that raised over $60 million to save starving, famine-stricken African families. So you understand why the late singer/activist/actor’s daughters were disappointed when an In Memoriam segment on the Grammys flashed his photo but omitted him from a special section honoring the giants. Here, daughter Shari reminds why her father meant so much to the world, and music.
Related: Harry Belafonte Dies: Actor, Singer & Civil Rights Icon Was 96
Being a woman of color and having been in the entertainment business literally All of my life, I’ve witnessed and have been exposed to many instances of what one would call “unjustified treatment.” But, don’t...
Related: Harry Belafonte Dies: Actor, Singer & Civil Rights Icon Was 96
Being a woman of color and having been in the entertainment business literally All of my life, I’ve witnessed and have been exposed to many instances of what one would call “unjustified treatment.” But, don’t...
- 2/9/2024
- by Shari Belafonte
- Deadline Film + TV
Harry Belafonte, the pioneering Calypso singer, actor, and civil rights leader, has died at the age of 96.
According to The New York Times, Belafonte passed away on Tuesday from congestive heart failure.
Born on March 1st, 1927 in Harlem, New York to Jamaican-American parents, Harold Bellanfanti, Jr. served in the Navy in World War II before becoming enamored with the stage while attending shows at the American Negro Theater with close friend Sidney Poitier. Eventually, he began performing at the venue after taking acting classes at The New School and won a Tony Award for the 1953 musical revue John Murray Anderson’s Almanac.
Belafonte began his musical career performing in nightclubs as a way to afford his acting classes. In 1953, he signed a recording contract with RCA Victor and released his debut single, “Matilda,” ahead of his breakthrough album Calypso. The 1956 LP topped the Billboard album chart for 31 weeks and spawned...
According to The New York Times, Belafonte passed away on Tuesday from congestive heart failure.
Born on March 1st, 1927 in Harlem, New York to Jamaican-American parents, Harold Bellanfanti, Jr. served in the Navy in World War II before becoming enamored with the stage while attending shows at the American Negro Theater with close friend Sidney Poitier. Eventually, he began performing at the venue after taking acting classes at The New School and won a Tony Award for the 1953 musical revue John Murray Anderson’s Almanac.
Belafonte began his musical career performing in nightclubs as a way to afford his acting classes. In 1953, he signed a recording contract with RCA Victor and released his debut single, “Matilda,” ahead of his breakthrough album Calypso. The 1956 LP topped the Billboard album chart for 31 weeks and spawned...
- 4/25/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
The Lumiere Film Festival paid homage to Greek actress, singer and politician Melina Mercouri this week with a mini-retrospective on what would have been the centenary of her birth.
The centerpiece event was a screening Thursday of “Never on Sunday,” the 1960 musical drama directed by and co-starring her regular collaborator, husband Jules Dassin, who was put on the Hollywood Blacklist for being a member of the Communist Party, and moved to Europe.
Mercouri and Dassin met at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 when Dassin was starring in “Rififi,” and Mercouri in “Stella,” a retelling of “Carmen.” They would work together many times, most famously on “Pheadra” (1962), “Topkapi” (1964), and “10:30 P.M. Summer” (1966).
Their 1960 collaboration, “Never on Sunday,” remains their most famous partnership. They would reprise their roles of Ilya and Homer in a Broadway production, “Ilya Darling,” that opened in April 1967.
Set in the Greek port city of Piraeus, the...
The centerpiece event was a screening Thursday of “Never on Sunday,” the 1960 musical drama directed by and co-starring her regular collaborator, husband Jules Dassin, who was put on the Hollywood Blacklist for being a member of the Communist Party, and moved to Europe.
Mercouri and Dassin met at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 when Dassin was starring in “Rififi,” and Mercouri in “Stella,” a retelling of “Carmen.” They would work together many times, most famously on “Pheadra” (1962), “Topkapi” (1964), and “10:30 P.M. Summer” (1966).
Their 1960 collaboration, “Never on Sunday,” remains their most famous partnership. They would reprise their roles of Ilya and Homer in a Broadway production, “Ilya Darling,” that opened in April 1967.
Set in the Greek port city of Piraeus, the...
- 10/16/2020
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Variety Film + TV
From Mvd, Sneak Peek footage from "The Best Of The Danny Kaye Show", available on DVD October 7, 2014, including six uncut episodes of the Emmy-winning 1963-1967 variety series:
"...Danny Kaye was at the height of his popularity when 'The Danny Kaye Show' debuted on CBS in the fall of 1963. A pair of Broadway hits 'Lady In the Dark' and 'Let's Face It' plus a succession of popular feature films including 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty', 'The Inspector General', 'Knock On Wood', 'Up In Arms', 'The Court Jester', 'Hans Christian Andersen' and 'White Christmas' made Danny Kaye one of the most beloved stars of his day..."
In this collection Danny sings with Ella Fitzgerald, Nana Mouskouri and Harry Belafonte. He sings and dances with Liza Minnelli and Gene Kelly, and deftly clowns his way through comedy sketches with Art Carney, Rod Serling,...
"...Danny Kaye was at the height of his popularity when 'The Danny Kaye Show' debuted on CBS in the fall of 1963. A pair of Broadway hits 'Lady In the Dark' and 'Let's Face It' plus a succession of popular feature films including 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty', 'The Inspector General', 'Knock On Wood', 'Up In Arms', 'The Court Jester', 'Hans Christian Andersen' and 'White Christmas' made Danny Kaye one of the most beloved stars of his day..."
In this collection Danny sings with Ella Fitzgerald, Nana Mouskouri and Harry Belafonte. He sings and dances with Liza Minnelli and Gene Kelly, and deftly clowns his way through comedy sketches with Art Carney, Rod Serling,...
- 9/24/2014
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Earlier this year, in an attempt to help deal with the usual ongoing cash-flow crisis, I pitched a stall at the local car boot sale. Among this motley collection of goods were a few unwanted Doctor Who goodies such as magazines, books and copious amounts of video cassettes which are, by definition, impossible to give away – never mind sell.
My stall attracted quite a few visitors. One of them was a young chap who was evidently a Doctor Who fan – or at least used to be a fan. Attempting some lame form of small talk, I asked the boy who his favourite Doctor was – turns out, it was David Tennant's incarnation. So I asked him if he was looking forward to the anniversary special – he surprised me with a forlorn shake of the head. When I asked him why, he explained that he and his mates at school had...
My stall attracted quite a few visitors. One of them was a young chap who was evidently a Doctor Who fan – or at least used to be a fan. Attempting some lame form of small talk, I asked the boy who his favourite Doctor was – turns out, it was David Tennant's incarnation. So I asked him if he was looking forward to the anniversary special – he surprised me with a forlorn shake of the head. When I asked him why, he explained that he and his mates at school had...
- 1/2/2014
- Shadowlocked
I can admit when I'm wrong.
When Warehouse 13 debuted on Syfy, I immediately took to our Facebook page to decry it as just a "Robey-less Friday the 13th - The Series." There were many people on Facebook who disagreed with me ... including the show's star Eddie McClintock, who implored me to give the show another shot.
So I gave the show another shot. But it had nothing to do with Eddie! I just felt that I hadn't really given the show a proper chance, so I tried again, and eventually found myself hooked. Warehouse 13 is fun, goofy, and sexy, and may have its best season yet this year.
For the uninitiated, W13 is a top secret facility in South Dakota which houses rare and dangerous artifacts, such as Lewis Carroll's looking glass, Robin Hood's crossbow, and James Franco's brownie recipe.
Secret Service Agents Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly...
When Warehouse 13 debuted on Syfy, I immediately took to our Facebook page to decry it as just a "Robey-less Friday the 13th - The Series." There were many people on Facebook who disagreed with me ... including the show's star Eddie McClintock, who implored me to give the show another shot.
So I gave the show another shot. But it had nothing to do with Eddie! I just felt that I hadn't really given the show a proper chance, so I tried again, and eventually found myself hooked. Warehouse 13 is fun, goofy, and sexy, and may have its best season yet this year.
For the uninitiated, W13 is a top secret facility in South Dakota which houses rare and dangerous artifacts, such as Lewis Carroll's looking glass, Robin Hood's crossbow, and James Franco's brownie recipe.
Secret Service Agents Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly...
- 7/12/2011
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Hollywood veteran Sophia Loren was the guest of honour at the launch of a new cruise liner in Germany - officially christening the ship with a bottle of champagne.
The 75-year-old movie icon performed the tradition ritual of cutting a ribbon and smashing a bottle against the side of the vessel at the event in Hamburg, Germany on Sunday.
She was joined by Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri, to launch the Msc Magnifica, which was celebrated with a massive fireworks display.
The 75-year-old movie icon performed the tradition ritual of cutting a ribbon and smashing a bottle against the side of the vessel at the event in Hamburg, Germany on Sunday.
She was joined by Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri, to launch the Msc Magnifica, which was celebrated with a massive fireworks display.
- 3/8/2010
- WENN
London, Mar 3 – Greek singer Nana Mouskouri is offering the country her pension she gets as a former member of the European parliament in a bid to tackle its massive debt.
Mouskouri, who recorded 1,500 songs during a career spanning half a century, served as a member of the European parliament for five years in the 1990s.
And she draws a pension of around 14,700 pounds from Brussels each year.
The diva said that she would donate her pension “until the country emerges from the economic crisis.”ouskouri told the.
Mouskouri, who recorded 1,500 songs during a career spanning half a century, served as a member of the European parliament for five years in the 1990s.
And she draws a pension of around 14,700 pounds from Brussels each year.
The diva said that she would donate her pension “until the country emerges from the economic crisis.”ouskouri told the.
- 3/3/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Last night's episode (and my up arrow) of Showtime's United States of Tara is sure to provoke debate, as gay teen Marshall has a ... severe ... reaction to his mother's betrayal.
Join the Spoiler-filled discussion that follows: What would cause a mild-mannered kid to commit such a shocking act of defiance, and was it a good development for his character ... or a dealbreaker?
Marshall is still on cloud nine after last week's heavy snogging session (or more?) with hunky classmate Jason. In school he chats up Lisa Loeb/Nana Mouskouri-esque Bff Petula, who advises him to take things slowly.
When Jason walks by and doesn't acknowledge Marshall, Petula worriedly says, "it's great to see you all oogly, I just don't ever want to see you crucified on a fence," to which Marshall replies "too soon for that reference."
Marshall does meet up with Jason later, and they ride their bikes...
Join the Spoiler-filled discussion that follows: What would cause a mild-mannered kid to commit such a shocking act of defiance, and was it a good development for his character ... or a dealbreaker?
Marshall is still on cloud nine after last week's heavy snogging session (or more?) with hunky classmate Jason. In school he chats up Lisa Loeb/Nana Mouskouri-esque Bff Petula, who advises him to take things slowly.
When Jason walks by and doesn't acknowledge Marshall, Petula worriedly says, "it's great to see you all oogly, I just don't ever want to see you crucified on a fence," to which Marshall replies "too soon for that reference."
Marshall does meet up with Jason later, and they ride their bikes...
- 3/23/2009
- by snicks
- The Backlot
LONDON -- Universal Music Group International said Wednesday that it is digging deep into its back catalog to make about 100,000 deleted European recordings available exclusively via Internet digital download. The first group of 3,000 tracks, available starting in mid-February, will include recordings made during the past 40 years in the U.K., France and Germany. Featured artists include Nirvana, Marianne Faithfull, Eddie & the Hot Rods, Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll, Chris De Burgh, Big Country, Jacques Brel, Nana Mouskouri, Eddy Mitchell and Brigitte Bardot. "Over the next three to four years, we aim to reissue perhaps as many as 10,000 albums for downloading, which amounts to more than 100,000 tracks. This program will offer material that in some cases goes back to the early days of recorded music," said Barney Wragg, senior vp at UMGI's eLabs division.
- 1/18/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
BRUSSELS -- The music industry will launch a new bid Tuesday to persuade the European Union to slash VAT on recorded music, as it uses the glitz of star players to make a political point. In recent days, Tom Jones, Sir Elton John and Julio Iglesias have joined some 1,150 artists putting their names to a petition appealing to ministers to cut the taxes, which range from 15% to 25% on CDs. Other high-profile names include Coldcut, Chris De Burgh, Zucchero, Axelle Red, Lords of Acid, Nana Mouskouri, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Johnny Hallyday and Barbara Hendricks, as well as European music sector lobbies the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and independent label group Impala. The campaign emphasizes the musical and geographical range of the signatories, from international to local artists and from classical and pop to techno and rap.
BRUSSELS -- The European Commission is coming under further pressure to recommend a value-added tax cut on music, following lobbying by a coalition of artists for a review of the current laws. Greek singer Nana Mouskouri has led the campaign, writing to all 20 of the European commissioners, saying that the current VAT rates mean there is effectively an unfair tax bias against music in Europe. "Why should music be discriminated against in comparison to other cultural products that currently benefit from reduced VAT rates, such as newspapers and magazines, as well as entrance tickets to cinemas, theaters and zoos?" Mouskouri wrote. "The talent of European artists is the driving force behind a dynamic creative sector that has gained recognition throughout the world. A VAT reduction on recorded music would increase access to culture for everyone, particularly for young people."...
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