Making History
Hailed by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as the “Queen City of the West” in 1854, Cincinnati has long been a cultural center. Many artists and musicians have gotten their start, here.
As we celebrate America 250, we take a look at a few of our favorite 20th (and 21st!) century masters.
Bootsy Collins
William Earl “Bootsy” Collins is a local and American legend.
A bass player, singer, and songwriter, Collins got his start with King Records in the 1960,s touring with James Brown as part of his backing band.
He went on to join Parliament-Funkadelic, where he built his signature style. Through his projects and work with Parliament-Funkadelic, Collins established himself as one of the leading names in funk music during the ‘70s. He was recognized by Rolling Stone as the fourth greatest bassist of all time, though he is No. 1 in our hearts! He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
A prolific producer and musical collaborator, Collins remains a vital part of Cincinnati’s music scene and huge influencist on contemporary funk, hip hop, and pop music.
Doris Day
Doris Day, the voice behind “Whatever Will Be, Bill Be” and the star of films like “Calamity Jane” and “Pillow Talk,” was not only a beloved actress and singer, but a proud Cincinnatian.
Born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhof, Day began her singing career at WLW. Over her 50-year career, she became one of the most prominent entertainers during the 20th century, receiving a Grammy lifetime achievement award, a Golden Globe, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also a prominent advocate for animal welfare, founded the Doris Day Animal League and the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
Day always claimed she could have happily spent her whole life in Cincinnati and attributed much of her music and personality to her early years here. Today Cincinnati celebrates the life and legacy of Day through a street named for her at Walnut Street, between Sixth and Seventhstreets, and fittingly, a dog park in Mt. Airy Forest.
Jim Dine
Studying at the Academy of Cincinnati while still in high school, Jim Dine has created works in multiple media drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and photography throughout his 50-year career.
After studying at the University of Cincinnati and the Boston Museum School, Dine earned a BFA at Ohio University in 1957, moving to New York City in 1958. He became closely associated with the Pop Art movement.
Dine’s work is featured in more than 70 public collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMa, Centre Pompidou, The British Museum and Tate Britain. His work is included in the collection of the Cincinnati Art Museum and his “Cincinnati Venus” can be seen in front of Centennial Plaza.
Charley and Edie Harper
Charley and Edie Harper were a husband and wife artist duo who sent down roots in Cincinnati. The pair met while studying at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and tied the knot shortly after graduating.
Charley became well known for his modernist art that included stylized wildlife prints, posters, and book illustrations.
After a six month honeymoon that was spent creating art, Charley Haper returned to the Art Academy as a teacher while Edie worked out of their Cincinnati home. She became known for her work in pottery, textiles, jewelry, sculpting, and painting, but most notably her photography.
Today, you can find their work in the Cincinnati Art Museum and on the city streets in the “Homecoming (Bluebirds)” and “Crazy Cat/Crazy Quilt” murals. Edie’s work will also take centerstage at the Taft Museum of Art in October, when “Edie McKee Harper: Modernist at Play” opens.
Isley Brothers
“If it were not for the Isley Brothers, the Beatles would still be in Liverpool” Paul McCartney has said.
The Isley Brothers are a soul band who trace their sound from their roots in Cincinnati. They began as a vocal trio but later expanded into a full band and found success after moving to New York City in the 1950s where they rose to fame with their song “Shout,” their first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
They went on to work with labels that helped them produce songs like “Twist and Shout” – memorably covered by The Beatles – before starting their own label. They became the first group to hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart acrosf six consecutive decades, earning Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Isley Brothers have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and are part of Cincinnati’s Black Music Walk of Fame.
– Ella Sander