'On An Overgrown Path' Seeks Missing Details on African American Conductor & Violinist Everett Lee, born 1913, Wheeler, WV

[Everett Lee (Photo from Marquette University Archives, taken by Carl Van Vechten]

Bob Shingleton, aka Pliable, writes the influential classical music blog On an Overgrown Path. Bob is based in England and has a keen interest in composers and musicians who have been unfairly neglected. He writes:

“Bill, I have published an article today about Everett Lee - http://www.overgrownpath.com/2011/07/i-dont-believe-in-negro-symphony.html

As I point out in the post, it is a work in progress and I invite readers to fill in the blanks, particularly in the later stages of his career. I hope that this way we can arrive at a biography that does this fine African American musician justice.

Please let me have any additional information you have and I will add it. There will be a brief follow up tomorrow and another big article on a related subject next week. I'll keep you posted.

Regards from England,

Bob Shingleton

Myrtle Hart Society Profile: 'Terrance Oliveras-Gray, violinist and conductor'

Myrtle Hart Society

Rashida N. Black, Founder/Executive Director

December 2008 eNewsletter

Terrance Oliveras-Gray is a nationally and internationally recognized violinist and conductor. He has performed as a member of the American Arts Trio, the Tower Ensemble and Connoisseur Musica. In 1998, he was nominated for "Musician of the Year" by Chicago AFM 10-208. He studied violin and conducting at DePaul University with Ruben Gonzales, Marc Zinger, and Elizabeth Grabow Mueller (violin) and Michael Morgan, Dr. Gregory Lyons, and Gordon Peters (conducting). 

By 1992, Mr. Gray had established himself as principal conductor and music director of the South Side Family Chamber Orchestra. In 1994, he became the Associate Conductor of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) about which, he states, "The music, the learning, the friendships, and the fun are what make the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras so great." He is currently on the faculty of the Sherwood Conservatory and the People's Music School; a member of the Chicago Sinfonietta; and concertmaster of the New Black Repertory Ensemble. The CYSO's Concert Orchestra performs works by Schubert, Elgar and Alfven on Wednesday, December 10, 7:30pm in the Sidney R. Yates Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center http://www.chicagoculturalcenter.org