Sunday, October 25, 2009

Composer Ulysses S. Kay Was Featured in 'Lucky Strikes Cigarettes' Advertisement

[“Award-Winning Concert Composer Ulysses Kay has been smoking Luckies for years and wouldn't switch for the world. 'Luckies are the best-tasting cigarette I ever smoked,' he says. Try a pack yourself. A Lucky's music to your taste.” © A. T. Co., All rights reserved. (Flickr.com)]

Ulysses Simpson Kay, Jr. was an African American composer, conductor and professor who was born on January 7, 1917 in Tucson, Arizona. He died in Englewood, New Jersey on May 20, 1995. Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin has generously made his research entry on Kay available to AfriClassical.com, where his complete Works List for the composer can be found. [Full Biography]







Comment by email: "Dear Bill: In these politically correct times, one would chide Uly for doing this kind of ad. But back in the "bad" ol' days - hey, if it was cool for a classical cat to endorse Lucky Strikes, you could make it big as well! Thanks for finding and sharing this ad! Yours, Kevin Scott"
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1 comment:

  1. JMWOctober 26, 2009 at 1:33 PM

    At that time nothing was more mainstream than a cigarette advertisement. This demonstrates that classical music once held a central position in American culture, a position that has since receded dramatically. That's a shame. A discussion upon the reasons for this would be highly rewarding, and it is well past due.

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