Strong Paul Roberson voice, Singer in the original Musical Porgy & Bess along with his wife Louise Hawthorne: Soprano, Principle Drummer for Baba Olatunji, Bernice Johnson, Clark Center & Alvin Ailey Dance Studios. Principal musician for Broadway musical Timbuktu. Drummer for Trailblazer, Pearl Primus and Katherine Dunham. To name a few
Notable work
Completed CD/Albums: Chief Bey & Ife Olofi, Taboo Chief Bey and his Royal Household 1959, Congo Percussion 1960, Hamiet Bluiett Dangerous Suite. Daughter’s website below.
Website
www.africandanceaz.org
James Hawthorne
James Hawthorne Bey
AKA CHIEF BEY
(April 17, 1913 – April 8, 2004) Ordained in Nigeria as a Shango Priest. An American jazz percussionist and African folklorist. Drawing Artist. Vocalist, Drum Maker, Wood Carver, Inventor of (No Whole Tension Technique) roping skin onto drums. He Drummed under the name of Chief Bey.
Early life
Born James Hawthorne in
Yemassee, South Carolina,[1][2] Bey moved with his family to
Brooklyn and then to
Harlem, where he began playing drums and singing in church choirs. He also served in both the Army and
Navy and during
World War II, believed to have another daughter in Germany, later attended
cosmetology school.[1]
Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Joffery Holder, Randy Weston, Reggie Workman, Sonny Morgan, Mongo Santa Maria, Eddie Palmeri, John Coltrane.
James Hawthorne died in his Brooklyn home of stomach cancer at the age of 91.[1][3][4][5] His first wife passed 3 years before him, Louise Hawthorne, soprano opera singer traveled the world together, while she sang operas like Aida and Madame Butterfly leaving their 3 children, David, Denise and Carolyn with just their father. His youngest daughter Carolyn who’s on his last CD followed him in death.
His common law wife Barbara Kenyatta (born Barbara Ann Coleman in Harlem on June 9, 1944), was a priestess of
Yémaya in the
Yoruba religion. She collapsed and died four days later.[2]