Today in Wheeling History: August 31--Everett Lee, pioneering African American conductor who became the first Black man to conduct a Broadway musical and lived to age 105, was born in Wheeling (1916).
Everett Astor Lee was born on August 31, 1916, on Eoff Street in East Wheeling to Everett Denver Lee, a barber, and Mamie May Blue Lee. His father worked at barbershops on Main Street and 14th Street. Young Everett showed exceptional musical talent, taking violin lessons from Walter Rogers on South York Street, Wheeling Island. Rogers recognized his extraordinary ability and encouraged the family to nurture his gift.
In 1927, the Lee family left Wheeling for Cleveland seeking better opportunities. There, Everett continued his musical education at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he met conductor Artur Rodzinski, who became his mentor. After military service at Tuskegee, where he trained as a pilot before an injury ended his military career, Lee joined the Broadway production of "Carmen Jones" in 1943.
Lee made history in 1945 as the first African American to conduct a Broadway musical when he took over Leonard Bernstein's "On the Town." Despite his talents and connections, racial barriers limited his American opportunities. He founded the integrated Cosmopolitan Symphony Society in 1947 and eventually moved to Europe in the 1950s, where he achieved international success conducting major orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and serving as chief conductor of Sweden's Norrköping Symphony Orchestra from 1962-1975. He conducted nearly 1,000 orchestral works throughout his career and died in Malmö, Sweden, on January 12, 2022, at age 105.
To learn more: Wheeling Hall of Fame: Everett Lee (https://tinyurl.com/2esjncnh), Everett Lee Tribute on YouTube (https://tinyurl.com/3spdz6cw), Weelunk: Wheeling Maestro Who Became the First Black Conductor on Broadway (https://tinyurl.com/4kdc6zt7), Everett Lee on Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/vpjuzc88), World Musician Obituaries: Everett Lee (https://tinyurl.com/23p69ssc), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/my7d2ava)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Weelunk
Everett Astor Lee was born on August 31, 1916, on Eoff Street in East Wheeling to Everett Denver Lee, a barber, and Mamie May Blue Lee. His father worked at barbershops on Main Street and 14th Street. Young Everett showed exceptional musical talent, taking violin lessons from Walter Rogers on South York Street, Wheeling Island. Rogers recognized his extraordinary ability and encouraged the family to nurture his gift.
In 1927, the Lee family left Wheeling for Cleveland seeking better opportunities. There, Everett continued his musical education at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he met conductor Artur Rodzinski, who became his mentor. After military service at Tuskegee, where he trained as a pilot before an injury ended his military career, Lee joined the Broadway production of "Carmen Jones" in 1943.
Lee made history in 1945 as the first African American to conduct a Broadway musical when he took over Leonard Bernstein's "On the Town." Despite his talents and connections, racial barriers limited his American opportunities. He founded the integrated Cosmopolitan Symphony Society in 1947 and eventually moved to Europe in the 1950s, where he achieved international success conducting major orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and serving as chief conductor of Sweden's Norrköping Symphony Orchestra from 1962-1975. He conducted nearly 1,000 orchestral works throughout his career and died in Malmö, Sweden, on January 12, 2022, at age 105.
To learn more: Wheeling Hall of Fame: Everett Lee (https://tinyurl.com/2esjncnh), Everett Lee Tribute on YouTube (https://tinyurl.com/3spdz6cw), Weelunk: Wheeling Maestro Who Became the First Black Conductor on Broadway (https://tinyurl.com/4kdc6zt7), Everett Lee on Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/vpjuzc88), World Musician Obituaries: Everett Lee (https://tinyurl.com/23p69ssc), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/my7d2ava)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Weelunk
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