| Yul Brenner
|
born on 7 July 1915, he was a Hollywood and Broadway actor who held French citizenship. He appeared in many movies and stage productions in the United States. He is best known for his portrayal of the Siamese king in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The King and I.
He was a very contraversial person. His origins have been somewhat of a mystery for many, and is something he also played on. Brynner's early life was exotic, but he made it out to be even more exotic than it actually was, for example, claiming that he was born Taidje Khan of part-Japanese parentage on the Russian island of Sakhalin. He had only 1/4 Romani blood, and 1/4 Jewish, by his mother Marousia Blagоvidova, whose father was a Russian Jew and her mother a Russian Gypsy. He began his adventerous and colourful life by playing the guitar in Romani circles and also working as a trapezist in the circus. He was elected honorary president of the Roma, an office he kept until his death 10 October 1985.
|
|
|
| Charlie Chaplin
|
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London on 16th April, 1889.Both his parents were music hall entertainers and Charlie started appearing on the stage while still a child. It had always been assumed that he was Jewish, and although he did actually strongly identify with the Jews and defend the Jewish people as he was a strong opponent of racism, and in 1937 Chaplin decided to make a film on the dangers of fascism. As Chaplin pointed out in his autobiography, attempts were made to stop the film being made: "Half-way through making The Great Dictator I began receiving alarming messages from United Artists. They had been advised by the Hays Office that I would run into censorship trouble. Also the English office was very concerned about an anti-Hitler picture and doubted whether it could be shown in Britain. But I was determined to go ahead, for Hitler must be laughed at." However, by the time The Great Dictator was finished, Britain was at war with Germany and it was used as propaganda against Hitler. However, despite this, there is no documentation proving any Jewish ancestry.His mother was Hannah Hill, and his paternal Grandmother Ellen Smith ,however so far no evidence that she was from the Romany Smith family census found so far show no sign of any . He was knighted in 1975 and died on Christmas day in Swizerland in 1977.
|
|
|
| David Essex
|
David Albert Cook, othewise known as David Essex, was born July 23, 1947 in Plaistow, London and is Romanichel.He is a British actor and singer who has enjoyed a varied career. His big break came when he was selected to play the lead in the musical Godspell in 1971. It took a couple of years for his career to take off, which it did with his appearance in the film That'll Be The Day (1973) and a major hit, "Rock On" (which he wrote himself), in the same year. A second single, "Lamplight," also reached the British Top 10, establishing him as a major U.K. celebrity.In the '70s, Essex emerged as one of England's top performers. His biggest hits during this decade including a pair of No. 1 singles: "Gonna Make You a Star" (1974), a satirical look at his success, and "Hold Me Close" (1975), a cheerful sing-along. He also appeared in Stardust, a 1974 sequel to That'll Be The Day; the title song was another Top 10 hit. Essex's pop idol looks gave him a strong female fan base.
David Essex has been the president of the Romany Union of Great Britain and is an active member of the Gypsy Council. In 1999 he was awarded by the Queen the Order of the British Empire for his commitment in arts and charity work.
|
|
|
| Jake Bowers
|
Jake Bowers, born 28th May 1972 in Haslemere, Surrey, is a self-made journalist born in a Romanichel family with 17 siblings. Proud of his heritage, he believes that the British Government, instead of reviling and marginalising the Romani people in the UK, should celebrate the massive contribution made by the long established minority. In 2003 he set up the Gypsy Media Company, with the aim of raising the profile of a much maligned community. He has worked for BBC television and radio, for the Guardian, the Independant and many other publications. He has also recently lauched the very first Romani Radio programme called Rokker Radio Show
Gypsy Media Company
An Interview With Jake Bowers by Rukshana Smith
|
|
|
| Patrick Jasper Lee
|
Patrick Jasper Lee comes from an indigenous line of Romani Gypsy storytellers and musicians. Having inherited the title Chovihano, which means ‘someone who takes care of the spiritual and emotional welfare of others’, he is able to draw on the specialist knowledge of an ancient lineage in all his work.
His skills and knowledge of ancient folklore were collected together and presented in his
first book, We Borrow the Earth (Thorsons, 2000), after which he toured Britain, the USA
and Canada with his successful personal development workshops. His pragmatic and
humorous approach contributes to sustainable change in people’s lives.
Jasper, as he likes to be known, founded the Jal Foundation in 1999, which became the
Jal School of Arts & Life to use ancient folk traditions and theatre in relation to human
development. Jasper is also the founder of Boktalo Book & Music Publications which
specialises in fiction and non fiction books on magical realism, ancient folklore, shamanism,
western traditions, and related subjects for adults and children.
Recommended Publications
|
|
|
| Azucar Moreno
|
Toñi and Encarna Salazar the singing duo otherwise known as Azucar Moreno, are from Andalucia, Spain, and come from a Calé family who have a long tradition of Flamenco singers and dancers, including their brothers who are the members of the group Los Chunguitos, in fact they are part of a large family of performers, even their grandfather was a musician, their father a singer and author, and their aunt is famous singer Porina de Badajoz. The Azucar Moreno sisters began their singing careers singing back-up to their brothers, but in 1982, they were discovered and signed by a record label. In 1985, their first album was released. They have become popular not only in the whole Spanish-speaking community, but also in the United States and Argentina, including Japan and worldwide.
|
|
|
|
| Joe Longthorne
|
Joe is extremely proud of his Romany ancestry. "If everything ended in showbusiness for me, I could easily go back to the traditional Romany life tomorrow without any problem. I love the independence and simplicity of the life; the free spirit. Yet, by being in showbusiness, I suppose I am carrying on the Romany lifetstyle in a modern way, travelling the world performing. They do say that all entertainers are Gypsies!".
"Romanies love to travel. It's in their blood...and they are all showmen in their own way, in whatever they choose to do with their life. It's something you cannot be taught; it's instinct, a feeling. What I am doing on stage is being true to those traditions. To use a Romany expression, I'm duckering; I am giving myself to my audience, selling myself and my 'wares' If you like, and that's something that has been with me all my life...it's inbred. It's a natural feeling".
The Romany traditions extend further. Joe can speak fluent Romany and is an expert in the universal language of the Gypsies.
"I can speak cant or Romany and converse quite freely with other Romany people," he admits. "Although there is one language, there are many different dialects and variations of words. People from the North of England speak a different form of Romany to those in the South - different words mean different things. Speaking Romany is something we are taught at an early age along with the native tongue of the country we live in." Interestingly enough, several Romany words have found their way into the English language and are in everyday use today, the most common being the word 'dad'. Romanies can communicate with each other no matter where they come from.
 FORTUNE TELLER
"The family were travelling folk who toured the country in trailers, eking out a living for themselves. My parents visited race meetings, festivals and fairgrounds where my father would pitch his sideshows and sell his wares. My mother used to sing and entertain the punters and later became one of the famous Carroll Levis discoveries. She was good, very good indeed. My great-grandmother, Lena Wilson who travelled with them told fortunes. So it was a working family. Just before the Second World War, however, like many other Romany families, they settled down and chose Yorkshire to make their home. Although they moved out of trailers and into houses (or to use the Romany word 'kens'), they never desserted their traditional Romany culture and values. All the children were brought up and schooled in this way. Once a Romany, always a Romany! All that changed was the roof over their heads. In the summer they were back on the road travelling. The wanderlust was as strong as ever".
SCHOOLING
"I had a very stable background even though I went to eight different schools because of our travelling. Schooling, however was not as important to me as the education I received from the family. Here I was taught about Romany culture and tradition; the history and ancestry. The family's opinions and Romany philosophy on life was of far more value to me than anything I learned in the classroom".
BOW-TOPPED WAGONS
"My father was a great showman and a terrific salesman. He still is...it's a Romany trait. He was good with horses too and at one time traded in them. We kept horses for many years. Gypsies are renowned horsemen and traders because over the years they have needed to be. Their horses earned them a shilling or two in many ways. In the early days, they pulled the bow-topped wagons and incidentally, authentic full-stock Gypsies who still travel the road today in bow-tops, pulled by horses, are known as black-faced Romanies."
PRIZE FIGHTER
"Before the advent of veterinary medicines, many farmers looked to Gypsy livestock dealers and herdsmen for advice on animal welfare. Gypsies were the farmers' friends. They worked on the land; and with the animals. They helped with the harvesting; and repaired fences and barns during the various seasons and then moved on. Gypsies have also found employment as mechanics, builders, brick-layers and roadworkers. They have moved into travelling circuses and fairs. My uncle, 'Tug' Wilson, was a great prize-fighting boxer who worked the fairgrounds for many years".
As Joe is quick to point out, Romany Gypsies have been much maligned throughout history...mainly because they have refused to compromise their culture and traditions, and to conform to society. They are fiercly independent and many people find their ways hard to understand.
STORY-TELLERS
"True Romanies are great story-tellers and superb psycologists. They have great patience and can sit down and talk to people and try and ease their problems. They are very good counsellors".
"Entertainment has always played a major part in Romany life. We are all entertainers. Gypsies had to make their own entertainment through the ages and through necessity, great musicians, great performers and great singers emerged".
"I first started singing when I was very young. It was a natural thing to do. It was in my blood and I would entertain anyone who would listen to me. I used to busk on the streets before finally breaking into showbusiness proffessionally. All the time, I was using my Romany instincts for 'duckering' to help me...my roots are never far away."
|
|
|
| Michael Caine
|
Maurice Joseph Micklewhite was born on Tuesday 14th March 1933, but as an actor changed his name to Michael Caine, however he still uses his real name when not working. He was born in Rotherhithe, South London to Maurice Micklewhite, a Catholic fish-porter, and Ellen Maria, a Protestant charlady. In true Romani tradition, as the first born son he was named after his father. He was awarded an Oscar in 1986 and again in 1999. In 2000 he was knighted for his contribution to performing arts.
|
|
|
| Bob Hoskins
|
Robert William "Bob" Hoskins was born October 26, 1942 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, of part Roma descent on his mother's side who were German Sinti. He made his stage debut in 1969. He hit the big time in 1978 when he starred in Dennis Potter's successful BBC drama serial, Pennies From Heaven. He is married with two children. Hoskins is known for his "cold bum test", which he uses whenever he receives a new script. He takes it to the lavatory to read, and if it's an enthralling script, his buttocks will have gone cold due to the time elapsed.
|
|
|
| Elvis Presley
|
Elvis Aaron Presley, was born January 8, 1935 in a two-room shotgun house in East Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Smith. He is also known as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" The surname Presley was Anglicized from the German Pressler during the Civil War, and many do not know that Elvis's ancestors came from Germany in the early 18th century. They were part of the Sinti people commonly known as 'Black Dutch' or 'Melungeons'. It is also said that his mother, was of Romanichel origins.
|
|
|
| Mother Teresa
|
 Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, on August 27, 1910 in the city of Skopje, Macedonia, then the capital of the Ottoman province of the Kossovo Vilayet. From an Albanian Gypsy family. Little is known of Teresa's early life except from her own reminiscences. She recounted that she felt a vocation to help the poor from the age of 12, and decided to train for missionary work in India. She was a member of the youth group in her local parish called Sodality. At 18, the Vatican granted Teresa permission to leave Skopje and join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns in Rathfarnham with a mission in Calcutta. In 1979 she was awrded the Nobel prize for Peace, and died in Calcutta on 5th September 1997.
|
|
|
| Katarzyna Pollok
|
Katarzyna Pollok is a Sinti Artist, born in Kiew in 1961 and grew up in Poland, leaving in 1983
She now lives in Berlin-Kreuzberg, producing paintings & objects of art. Katarzyna is an internationally renown painter and sculptor who is commited to minority rights, including the
memory of the Holocaust. Her exhibitions are worldwide, including Jewish Museums of the Shoah.
Katarzyna's Website
|
|
|
| Django Reinhardt
|
 Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt was born on January 23, 1910 in in Liberchies, Pont-à-Celles, Belgium, he belonged to one of the most numerous German Sinti families, of the Eftavagarya group. Even after two of his fingers were seriously damaged by an accident, Django outstandingly performed violin, guitar and banjo with the use of his healthy fingers. Django's particular style is also defined "Gypsy Jazz". Reinhardt spent most of his youth in Gypsy encampments close to Paris, France, playing banjo, guitar and violin from an early age professionally at dance halls in Paris. He started first on the violin and eventually moved on to a banjo-guitar that had been given to him, and his first known recordings (in 1928) were of him playing the banjo (a banjo guitar has six strings and is tuned like a guitar).
Reinhardt survived World War II unscathed, unlike many other Gypsies who perished in the concentration death camps of the Nazis. He had the help of a Luftwaffe official named Dietrich Schulz-Köhn, a.k.a. Doktor Jazz, who deeply admired his music. In 1943 he married Sophie Ziegler in Salbris, with whom he had a son; Babik Reinhardt, who went on to become a respected guitarist in his own right.
Django Reinhardt was among the first people in France to appreciate and understand the music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie whom he sought after when he first arrived in New York. Unfortunately they were all on tour. He integrated some elements of their music, still never compromising his own musical visions.
He later formed a new band with saxophone, trumpet, piano, bass and drums. He continued composing, and is regarded as among the most advanced guitar players of jazz music. Here in UK and other parts of Europe Romnies have come to know the word music as 'Django' in their chib after Reinhardt.
In 1951, he retired to Samois sur Seine, France, near Fontainebleau. He lived there for two years until May 16, 1953, when, while returning from the Avon train station, he collapsed outside of his house from a brain hemorrhage. It took one day for a doctor to arrive and he was declared dead on arrival at the hospital in Fontainebleau.
Listen to Django Renhardt & His American Swing
|
|
|
| Martin Taylor
|
 Martin Taylor MBE was born 1956, and is a Romanchel jazz guitarist. He was first brought to the attention of the jazz world in the 70's through his collaboration with legendary jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli. Martin plays both lead guitar and solo arrangements of standards. His solo arrangements sometimes use similar chord shapes and patterns to those of Joe Pass, but perhaps with a sharper feel for rhythm. Other influences, are his friend and mentor, guitarist Ike Isaacs.
Self-taught from an early age and playing on cruises from young, Martin is considered to be one of the finest jazz guitarists in the world today, he has his own unique and disctint style consisting sometimes of guitar arrangements of standards containing all 3 main parts - bass, chords and melody/solo.
Listen To Martin's Music
|
|
|
|