The First Five Years • Crossing The Line • Curtain Call

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Come Come spring spring 2005, 2005, rhythm rhythm and and blues blues fans fans of of the the 1970s 1970s who who remember remember the the lyrics lyrics of of “What’s “What’s Going Going On” On” will will hear hear the the poetic poetic sound sound of of Tyrone Tyrone Stanley Stanley when when he he portrays portrays the the late late Marvin Marvin Gaye Gaye in in Onyx Onyx Vizion Vizion Productions’ Productions’ “WHAT’S “WHAT’S GOING GOING ON: ON: The The Life Life and and Music Music of of Marvin Marvin Gaye.” Gaye.” North Carolina A&T alumnus Tyrone Stanley is making a name for himself in the world of performance arts. Known by the stage name Tironn, Stanley received his B.S. degree in English and minor in music and theatre from N.C. A&T in 1995. “The The bug hit me in high school,” the actor/ musician said. said. His fi rst performances were as drum major at Eastern Wayne Senior High High School in Goldsboro, N.C. It t was the the late Anglelo Holman Jr. who really opened his eyes to the world of performing. An A&T graduate and former drum major for the Blue and Gold Gold Marching Machine, Holman directed Stanley’s high school band and choir. His profound knowledge of the musical arena impressed Stanley to the highest. “He He was the greatest musician that ever lived,” said Stanley. “He showed me the basics of music.” Stanley tanley holds Holman, who was killed while he was a student at A&T, in such high esteem that in 2005 he and the production company he co-founded, Onyx Vizion Productions, are chartering the Angelo Holman Jr. School of the Arts, a high school of performing arts. Marching arching with his high school band gave Stanley an inclination that he wanted to enter the world of show biz, but performing with the university’s theater group, the Richard B. Harrison Players, confi rmed it. “It t was at A&T, my fi rst large stage, where I decided that is where I belong … on stage,” he said. 22 A&TTODAY A&T TODAY Fall 2004 By Nettie Collins Rowland ’72/’95MS
Although Stanley performed with the Richard B. Harrison Players, he never offi cially joined the theatre program. “I infi ltrated every audition! I was in “Black Nativity” for two years, “God’s Trombones” and played lead in “Once on this Island.” Along with performing with the Richard B. Harrison Players, Stanley joined A&T’s gospel and university choirs, utilizing his musical talent. Loreatha Graves, interim director of the university’s international students and scholars program, remembers Stanley playing for the inspirational choir at her church. “He was gifted and talented,” she said. “His gifts of song, dance, piano and drama go well beyond the stage – for to him it is a God-ordained ministry.” Eleanor Gwynn, who chairs the visual and performing arts department and directs the E. Gwynn Dancers at A&T, recalls Stanley as one of the most talented students that she had ever worked with in voice. “It wasn’t just his voice, but it was also his spirit,” she said. “No matter what the production was, he brought a spirit that permeated the whole group. Not many people can do this.” Gwynn was a mentor for Stanley and often gave him words of encouragement. “She always made me believe that I had a message to tell to the world through music,” he said. The door of opportunity opened for Stanley right after he graduated from college. Mabel Robinson of the North Carolina School of the Arts, who was the guest director for his last production at A&T, “Once on this Island,” offered him a lead in a European tour. He lived in Amsterdam, Holland, for a year touring with “The Glory of Gospel.” Since that tour, Stanley has gone on to perform in “Ain’t Misbehavin,” “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God” with Melba Moore and Cissy Houston, “Totally Television” and “Starlight Orchestra” at Busch Gardens, “Hair” and many others. “My favorite role so far was Andre the Viper in “Ain’t Misbehavin’” said Stanley. “It was a challenge because the role required me to smoke what was supposed to be a fi ve long reefer. I’m a nonsmoker. It was the fact that I had to really become a character with which I shared no similarities. That was fun.” Stanley has also starred on the soap opera “All My Children” with Susan Lucci (Erika Cane). “She really gave me a new outlook on soap stars,” he said. “It was a wonderful experience to see how episodic television is put together and the time and efforts necessary to have a polished product, from the actor to the sireditors to the sound and wardrobe crews.” Of course with all the glamour in show biz, Stanley admits there are some challenges. “The (racial) prejudice is still prevalent,” he said. “Finding time to do your craft and make enough money to pay your bills is a challenge in itself.” It is the people that Stanley performs for that makes his job so enjoyable. “The look of satisfaction on the faces of an audience is an incomparable sense of accomplishment for me. Beyond a pay check,” he exclaims. His parents, Fred Sr. and Irene, have been great role models for him. He says that they had no doubt he would be successful. Stanley will release his “High Voltage” R&B CD this fall. “It is absent from harsh profanities of a majority of the music that is released today. It tells my love and loss.” The father on one son (Marcus) and former teacher says young people going into show biz business should “Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace.” Stanley says he wants to make a difference through the arts. “I want to plant seeds of love and happiness that will never die even in the midst of the thorns of life.” A&T TODAY Fall 2004 23
Page 1 and 2: Volume 8, Number 1, Fall 2004 North
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Page 7 and 8: Playhouse InsideAggieland What happ
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The First Five Years • Crossing The Line • Curtain Call

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