Veteran Broadway dancer, actor, director and author Ronald "Smokey" Stevens recently joined WBGO's Doug Doyle to talk about his amazing entertainment career that included performing with some of the biggest stars and a triumphant return to show business after overcoming drug addiction.
You could start off with his role as one of the crows dancing and singing with scarecrow Michael Jackson in the 1978 movie The Wiz.
"I always loved to dance and eventually I became very good. I acquired the technique of ballet which has taken me to my entire professional career."
He was a part of five Broadway shows and wrote and starred in his own musical Rollin’ on the T.O.B.A.
He landed a humorous role in the 1984 film The Cotton Club.
Well before that, Smokey was dancing on stage with the likes of the great Cab Calloway.
"My first Broadway show was Bubbling Brown Sugar which paid tribute to the Harlem Renaissance, the music, the comedy and the songs. Cab Calloway contributed significantly to the Harlem Renaissance with his music. In Bubbling Brown Sugar, they did one of his songs called "Jim, Jam, Jumpin' Jive" and I had the opportunity to dance on stage in that number. When he was hired in Bubbling Brown Sugar, we were actually seeing the man that made the music and was a star. That was so awesome. It was such a blessing to meet and work with my living history."
Steven's rising career took a downturn after he became addicted to drugs and he even spent some jail time. The performer eventually bounced back with a vengeance…and told the story of his addiction battles in his one person-show I Just want to Tell Somebody. The award-winning play featured Smokey playing himself and D-man, his demon in life.
"God gave me another opportunity so I turned that whole addiction story that was part of my life into a two-character play. I turned my tragedy into triumph and the reviews that I got you couldn't buy or pay for. I was also awarded the 50th Annual Vivian Robins Audelco Recognition Awards for Best Solo performance.
Stevens is also a fan of WBGO's daily feature/podcast The Art of the Story. He has always loved jazz.
"I love male vocalists like Johnny Hartman, Eddie Jefferson, Joe Williams and Lou Rawls. I eventually wrote a play in dedication and a tribute to Eddie Jefferson and his vocalese-style of jazz singing. The play called A Night in Tunisia will be performed this fall."
Ronald “Smokey” Stevens is also out with a new book The First 60 Years: the History of Afro-American Musical Theater and Entertainment 1865-1930.
You can SEE Doug Doyle's entire interview with Smokey Stevens below.
