Jackie Gleason, a well-known American actor and comedian, was recognized for his bold comedic approach. Following the loss of his mother, he relocated to New York City and began working as a comedian. Jack L. Warner, a film company executive, discovered him and signed him to a contract with Warner Bros. When his contract with Warner Bros. was not renewed, he moved to New York and established himself as a Broadway performer, playing in shows such as “Follow the Girls.” He moved on to star in “The Life of Riley” as the titular husband and father, stumbling his way through daily happenings, taking advantage of the emerging television medium. On CBC, he hosted and performed in “Cavalcade of Stars” and then “The Jackie Gleason Show.” An continuing routine focused on bus driver Ralph Kramden, his wife Alice, and their neighbors Ed and Trixie Norton was one of the show’s frequent skits. “The Honeymooners,” an hour-long sitcom, was born from this. He appeared in a number of films, including “The Hustler,” “Smokey and the Bandit” and two sequels, and “The Toy.” Aside from this, he made a name for himself on Broadway, receiving a Tony Award for “Take Me Along.” He also created a name for himself in the music industry by releasing a series of best-selling “mood music” albums.
Childhood and Adolescence
David Byrne is the son of Tom, an electronics engineer, and Emma, who raised him in Scotland. He is the only sibling he has. His family relocated to Canada when he was two years old, and subsequently to Maryland, United States, when he was nine.
He had a passion for music since he was a child, and by middle school, he had mastered numerous instruments such as the guitar, accordion, and violin. He attended Baltimore County’s Lansdowne High School. During the 1970-71 academic year, he attended the Rhode Island School of Design and the Maryland Institute College of Art. To pursue a career in music, he dropped out of college.
Career of Jackie Gleason
He moved to New York and founded the Talking Heads with Chris Frantz, a fellow Rhode Island School of Design student, and Tina Weymouth, Chris’s girlfriend. In 1975, the band played their first show. Jerry Harrison, a multi-instrumentalist, joined the band in 1977. Their debut album, ‘Talking Heads: 77,’ was released the same year. The single ‘Psycho Killer’ charted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1978, they published their second album, ‘More Songs About Buildings and Food.’ It was extremely popular due to its mix of funky bass, country, and punk music. The album’s success spurred the band to quickly release two additional albums, ‘Fear of Music’ (1979) and ‘Remain in Light’ (1980), all of which achieved Gold in the United States.
The group went on hiatus until 1983. Meanwhile, in 1981, Byrne released his first solo album, ‘My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.’ In 1983, Talking Heads released the album “Speaking in Tongues.” It was their first major commercial success. A promotional tour followed the album’s release.
The steel guitar was included on their following album, ‘Little Creatures,’ which was released in 1985 and featured elements of country music. It became the band’s best-selling record, selling double platinum in the United States.
In 1987, Byrne wrote five songs for the soundtrack of the film “The Last Emperor.” Before disbanding, the band released two more albums, ‘True Stories’ (1986) and ‘Naked’ (1988).
In 1988, Byrne founded the Luaka Bop world music record company, and in 1989, he released his solo album “Rei Momo.” The album’s music included songs in the styles of meringue, samba, mambo, and cumbia. Byrne is an artist who releases albums at his own pace because he is more concerned with expressing his originality than with monetary success.
During the 1990s, he only released three albums, including the self-titled ‘David Byrne’ (1994).
He launched the new millennium with the release of ‘Look into the Eyeball’ (2001), followed by three additional albums, the most recent of which was ‘Love this Giant’ (2012). His music has also appeared on numerous movie soundtracks and stage plays.
Major Projects of Jackie Gleason
He was a co-founder of the highly renowned new wave band Talking Heads, which was known for its avant-garde musical style. In 2002, the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
He founded the Luaka Bop record label, which produces music and compilations from all over the world, with a focus on Cuba, Africa, Latin America, and the Far East. Los De Abajo, Jim White, and Zap Mama are just a few of the acts signed to the label.
Achievements & Awards
In 1987, Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Cong Su were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the film “The Last Emperor.” In 1988, they were also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television for the same film.
Personal History and Legacy
In 1987, he married costume designer Adelle Lutz and they had a daughter. In 2004, the couple divorced.
From 2007 through 2011, he was in a relationship with artist Cindy Sherman.
Estimated Net Worth
Trivia
Even though he is left-handed, he plays the guitar right-handed.
He does not possess a car and rides his bike as his primary mode of transportation.