THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408050283
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: A Twist of Trivia
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
He was born in Norfolk, but he grew up in Suffolk - good enough to net him an honored spot as a Sun trivia subject.
An opera singer - ``definitely a bass,'' he noted in 1985 - he sang before a Hampton Roads audience that year in a starring role in ``Harriet, The Woman Called Moses,'' the story of Harriet Tubman, a slave who led other slaves to freedom.
Our trivia star portrayed her father, Benjamin.
His appearance in that opera, at the Center Theater, marked his debut in front of a home audience, but he had a great deal of impressive credits before then.
He performed in many parts of the world, including Radio City Music Hall in New York City, where he portrayed Lawyer Frazier in ``Porgy and Bess.''
He also sang at La Scala Opera House in Milan, Covent Garden in London and the Paris Opera House.
The 6-foot-1 , 225-pounder has appeared in film, on television and on record.
Our subject gives a lot of credit for his success to Dr. Margaret Reid and her husband, Dr. L.T. Reid, recent trivia subjects. They paid for his voice lessons.
His parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Hattie and James - same last name - who lived on Pitchkettle Road.
What is that last name? How about the first name?
Here are a few other questions to ponder:
1. In 1968, two performers tied for the Best Actress Oscar. Who?
2. Mike Nesmith of ``The Monkees'' inherited $25 million from his dear mom. She made the money by inventing what?
3. Marlon Brando starred in ``On the Waterfront.'' Who was Columbia Pictures' initial choice for that role?
4. During burial services for one of our presidents, ``Poll'' had to be removed. Who or what is Poll? Which president? And why the hasty exit?
5. So you think you know your Bible. Who succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelites?
MEMO: ANSWERS
Raymond Bazemore, our trivia subject, always considered himself
fortunate.
``I have a God-given talent,'' he once said. ``And I'm one of the
fortunate few - a member of the performing work force.''
His performance in Norfolk in the opera, ``Harriet - The Woman Called
Moses,'' had an interesting twist, literally and figuratively.
A few months before it opened in Norfolk, Bazemore slipped on some
subway stairs in the Bronx.
The accident added a new dimension to his character of Benjamin
Tubman.
``I'll be walking with a cane,'' Bazemore said. ``I can't keep my
balance without it. I'll use a rickety stick.''
As for the other trivia questions:
1. Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand tied for the Best Actress
Oscar at the 1968 Academy Awards. Hepburn starred in ``Guess Who's
Coming to Dinner,'' and Streisand was that ``Funny Girl.''
2. Monkee Mike Nesmith inherited $25 million from his mom, the
inventor of Liquid Paper.
3. Marlon Brando starred in and became a star thanks to ``On the
Waterfront.'' But the folks at Columbia originally wanted Frank Sinatra.
Don't chuckle. He was a justifiable hit in ``From Here to Eternity.''
4. During the burial services for Andrew Jackson in June 1845, the
president's pet parrot, Poll, had to be removed because he was
screeching swear words. That's where the expression ``dirty bird'' came
from.
5. Joshua, who fought the battle of Jericho, succeeded Moses as
leader of the Israelites. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Marlon Brando starred in ``On the Waterfront.'' Do you know who was
the initial choice for that role?
File photo
Opera singer Raymond Bazemore grew up in Suffolk.
by CNB