André De Shields

When the 73 year old performer Andre De Shields accepted his Tony award last night for his role as Hermes in the hit Broadway show Hadestown, he began with these words: “Baltimore, Maryland are you in the house? I hope you’re watching at home because I am making good on my promise that I would come to New York and become someone you’d be proud to call your native son.”

In this conversation, recorded in 2014, he tells the story in detail about growing up in Baltimore (he calls himself “lucky number nine”), a career spanning five decades “on the precipice of the abyss” (i.e. as a performer) and the secret to his longevity: “I exercise vigorously, I eat judiciously, and I pray constantly.”

André De Shields acknowledges his hometown of Baltimore and shares three powerful rules he lives his life by as he accepts the Tony Award for Hadestown. Stream the 73rd Annual Tony Awards on CBS All Access.

Broadway actor André De Shields talks about growing up in Baltimore and the transformative power of art. Listen to the full interview on The Third Story Podcast with Leo Sidran: http://bit.ly/1DDxTqp Recorded in New York in June, 2014.

Broadway actor André De Shields tells his story of Baltimore, over a soulful backdrop. André De Shields - vocal Ben Sidran - fender rhodes Leo Sidran - drums, bass Jon Natchez - saxophone and brass section Al Falaschi - solo saxophone http://www.andredeshields.com http://www.bensidran.com http://www.leosidran.com De Shields writes: Hate is not an emotion; hate is a disease: hate of your father, hate of your mother, hate of your brothers and your sisters too.

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