Lindsay Kemp, the influential British choreographer and mime artist who inspired David Bowie and also worked with Kate Bush, died on this day in 2018, he was aged 80.
Tributes to the choreographer poured in following the announcement of his death. Boy George described him as a genius.
“Lindsay Kemp was genius,” he wrote on social media site Twitter. “I met him when I was 17 and he was like a beautiful gay wizard Buddha. R.I.P dancing queen.”
Kemp passed away suddenly at his home in Tuscany, Italy. Earlier in the day he had been working with his dancers and was preparing to go on tour.
Kemp was born in Birkenhead but grew up in Newcastle on Tyne. He loved to dance from an early age and recalled that his parents sent to him to boarding school in a hope that it would “knock it out of him”.
His love of dance never diminished and he once said he was constantly in trouble while completing his national service for dancing more than marching.
He studied with the legendary French mime artist Marcel Marceau. In the late 1960’s he formed his own dance company where he was reknown for mixing different styles of dance. In the early 1970’s he worked with David Bowie staging his famous Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars show, which Kemp also performed in.
He appears in John Lennon’s promotional clip for John, I’m Only Dancing which was directed by photography Mick Rock. When Kemp passed away Rock said Kemp was a dear friend and inspiration.
“He touched all who came in to contact with his unique and revolutionary creative personality. He influenced all of us. May God bless him. There will not be another like him. ” Rock said in his tribute posted to Twitter.
Alongside working with David Bowie, Kemp also worked with Kate Bush early in her career. She wrote the track Moving about him, which appears on her debut album The Kick Inside.
In the 1970’s Kemp appeared in several films by Derek Jarman including Sebastiane and Jubilee, later he appeared in Todd Haynes Velvet Goldmine.
Stephen Fry was born on this day in 1957
Actor, writer and television host Stephen Fry was born on this day in 1957.
Fry first gained widespread recognition as a member of the comedy duo Fry and Laurie, alongside Hugh Laurie. Their collaboration, which included sketch shows like A Bit of Fry & Laurie and the sitcom Jeeves and Wooster, showcased Fry’s sharp comedic timing and linguistic flair.
He has appeared in many television shows including Blackadder, Kingdom, Absolute Power, Bones and It’s a Sin. In film he delivered an acclaimed performance as Oscar Wilde in Wilde, as well as appearing in The Hobbit, A Fish Called Wanda, Gosford Park, and V for Vendetta.
In addition to his work on the screen, Fry is a distinguished author and has penned several best-selling books, including autobiographies and novels. His memoirs, such as Moab is My Washpot and The Fry Chronicles, offer an insightful and often humorous look into his life, exploring his experiences with education, personal struggles, and his career in the public eye.
Fry’s novels, including The Liar and Making History, further highlight his literary talent, blending historical and contemporary themes.
As the original host of the long-running quiz show QI, he brought a unique blend of erudition and charm to the program, engaging audiences with intriguing facts and lively discussions. His role as a presenter on various other shows, including documentaries on subjects ranging from politics to technology, has cemented his reputation as a versatile and engaging communicator.
A passionate advocate for various social causes, Fry has used his platform to champion issues related to mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, and education. His openness about his own struggles with bipolar disorder and his candid discussions about his sexuality have made him an influential voice in conversations about mental health and LGBTQ+ issues.
Civil rights campaigner Bayard Rustin died in 1987
In 1964 Bayard Rustin organised the historic March on Washington for Civil Rights. At that rally Dr Martin Luther King delivered his historic I Have a Dream speech.
Bayard Rustin is remembered a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement, known for his strategic acumen, activism, and advocacy for nonviolent protest.
Born on March 17, 1912, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Rustin’s early life was marked by his involvement in various social justice causes, including labor rights and pacifism. His commitment to nonviolent resistance was influenced by his study of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, which he later integrated into his activism.
Rustin is perhaps best known for his role as an organiser of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a landmark event that brought over 250,000 people to the USA’s capital and became a defining moment in the civil rights struggle.
Despite his significant contributions, Rustin faced considerable challenges due to his sexuality. As an openly gay man at a time when such identities were not widely accepted, Rustin’s orientation was often used against him by detractors, including those within the civil rights movement.
In addition to his work in the civil rights movement, Rustin was a dedicated advocate for various social issues, including labor rights and LGBTQ+ equality. Rustin actively began advocating for gay rights in the 1980s as the HIV/AIDS epidemic gripped the USA.
His life was brought to the screen in the film Rustin staring Colman Domingo. Bayard Rustin died on this day in 1987 after suffering a perforated appendix.
In 2013 he was posthumously awarded the USA’s Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. The award was accepted by Walter Naegle, who had been his partner during the final decade of his life.
OIP Staff, this post was first published in 2023. AI technology was used to develop sections of this post.
