David Brinkley -
Wilmington, NCStudio Lights:
Newscaster David
Brinkley, who worked for
ABC and NBC in a career
spanning half a century,
was born and grew up by
the North Carolina
coastal town of
Wilmington. While in
High School he wrote for
the Wilmington Morning
Star newspaper (now the
Star News). Today
Wilmington continues to
shine a light on rising
stars, with the largest
film production studio
east of Hollywood.
Explore this charming
area today:
Wilmington,
NC
Stephen Colbert -
Charleston, SCThe {early} Colbert
Report: Although
born in the nation’s
capital, political
satirist, writer,
comedian and television
host Stephen Colbert
grew up in Charleston,
SC, first on James
Island, and later in
town on well-known East
Bay Street. Since his
early days in the Holy
City’s Episcopal
Porter-Gaud School, he
has gone on to many
accomplishments, and
even attempted a 2008
presidential bid in his
home state (through
which he raised
thousands of dollars for
South Carolina schools).
Read more about the
allure of his hometown:
Charleston, SC.
Kristin Davis - Columbia, SCSex and the City - The Prequel:
Before taking the Big
Apple by storm, Sex and
the City star Kristin
Davis was living it up
in Columbia, SC. Born in
Colorado, she moved to
South Carolina’s capital
as a small child, and
later graduated from A.C.
Flora High School.
Today, surely Charlotte
and her SATC gal pals
would enjoy perusing
Devine Street, Five
Points and other
eclectic shopping places
about town ... Southern
girls do love to shop!
Dale Earnhardt & Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Kannapolis, NC
NASCAR Country:
Or, rather, “Earnhardt
Country,” is located
just outside of
Charlotte, NC. Legendary
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, and his son,
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,
hail from Kannapolis,
NC, and planted their
stock car racing roots
in the dirt of their
home state. The 2010
season kicks off next
months – are you ready?
Check out the NASCAR
scene and other
spectator sports in the
Carolinas here.
Roberta Flack – Black Mountain, NC
The First Time
Ever I Saw Your Face:
Soulful singer,
songwriter and musician
Roberta Flack hails from
the mountains of Western
NC and the small town of
Black Mountain, where she lived as a
small child.
Located near to
Asheville, today Black
Mountain offers gorgeous
scenery, outdoor
pursuits, eclectic shops
and galleries, and even
a Center for the Arts.
Ms. Flack, a notable
educator, would
certainly approve of the
Center’s many summer
camps and programs!
Tyler Florence -
Greenville, SC
Top Chef: Food
Network Star Chef Tyler
Florence hails from the
South Carolina Upstate,
where he launched into
the culinary world as a
dishwasher at a
restaurant in his
hometown of Greenville,
SC. Carolinians hope he
follows through on his
whispers about opening
his own restaurant in
the town of his birth.
Explore its culinary
scene and more:
Greenville, SC
Ava Gardner -
Smithfield, NC
The
Original Barefoot
Contessa: Tinseltown legend Ava
Gardner – famed for her
roles in movies such as
Show Boat, The Killers,
Mogambo and The Barefoot Contessa – was born in
1922 in Brogden, a rural
community near
Smithfield, NC. Today,
fans celebrate her
legacy at the Ava
Gardner Museum,
located in Smithfield.
The museum recently
announced that it has
been nominated for a
National Medal for
Museum and Library
Science, and the winner
will be announced in
October 2010 – good
luck!
Dizzy Gillespie -
Cheraw, SC
Dizzy Gillespie made
Cheraw reverberate with
musical sounds that
could only come from
genius. But he’s not the
only reason this small
town rocks! Find out
more.
Jonathan Green -
Beaufort, SCThe colorful and captivating art of South Carolina native
Jonathan Green offers a very personal view into a treasured and rarely seen African American culture of the Lowcountry
– Gullah. Born near
Beaufort, SC, Green’s engaging paintings celebrate his Gullah heritage, and his childhood memories literally come to life on the canvas. Intrigued? Learn more about
Gullah Culture.
Andy Griffith -
Mount Airy, NC
Real life Mayberry:
Andy Griffith drew
inspiration for his
beloved Mayberry from
his real-life hometown
of Mount Airy, North
Carolina. This
quintessential town in
the Blue Ridge foothills
exudes charm, from
Snappy Lunch to
wineries, hiking trails
and jazz music! Explore
its Hollywood-worthy
appeal here: Mount Airy,
NC
O. Henry – Greensboro, NC
The Gift of O. Henry:
Each year, as the
holidays draw near, we
revisit classic holiday
tales that have been
treasured by
generations. One such
favorite is The Gift of
the Magi, a short story
by North Carolina native
O. Henry (born William
Sydney Porter). Today,
in O. Henry’s hometown
of Greensboro
Greensboro,
you can even stay in the
O. Henry Hotel to enjoy the gracious hospitality of a by-gone era. Perhaps it will inspire you to pen your own story, too.
Hootie and the
Blowfish – Columbia, SC
Calling all fans of
Darius Rucker and
Hootie and the
Blowfish -- did you
know you can pay homage
to your favorite band
with a stroll down
Hootie Boulevard and a
visit to a new monument
in its honor? Yes, it's
true, and it's all in
the heart of Five Points
in
Columbia, SC. The quartet met in
town as freshmen at the
University of South
Carolina, where they say
guitarist Mark Bryan
overheard Mr. Rucker
singing in the dorm
showers. And the rest,
as they say, is history.
Andrew Jackson – South Carolina
Old Hickory
Country: Our
nation’s 7th president,
Andrew Jackson, hails
from South Carolina, and
the area surrounding his
boyhood home is now
Andrew Jackson State
Park, one of the park
service’s most popular
attractions. Spanning
360 acres, the park
includes a museum
(Docents in period garb?
Check!), trails and a
fishing lake. Plus,
don’t miss a replica of
a one-room, 18th century
schoolhouse!
Learn more: Andrew
Jackson State Park
Jasper Johns – South Carolina
American contemporary artist
Jasper Johns has many
ties to South Carolina.
Born in 1930 in August,
GA, he spent his early
life with his
grandparents in
Allendale, SC (after the
failure of his parents’
marriage). During his
childhood, he lived in
Columbia, on the shores
of nearby Lake Murray,
and in Sumter. He
attended the University
of South Carolina for
three semesters, then
moved to New York City.
In 2006, private
collectors Anne and
Kenneth Griffin bought
Johns’ [False Start] for
$80 million, making it
the most expensive
painting by a living
artist. Jasper Johns
currently spends his
time between Sharon
Connecticut and the
Caribbean island of
Saint Martin and
continues to produce
several paintings each
year. In SC, the
Greenville Museum of Art
has several of his
paintings in their
permanent collection.
Michael Jordan –
Wilmington, Chapel Hill
and Charlotte, NC
Roundball! With basketball
season in full swing,
our thoughts go to famed
NBA star and adopted son
of North Carolina
Michael Jordan. The
Jordan Family moved to
Wilmington, NC when Michael was a toddler,
and he later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where his
stellar performance on
the basketball team
earned him his spot with
the Chicago Bulls.
Today, Mr. Jordan
maintains his ties with
NC, and is a majority
owner of the Charlotte
Bobcats, in
Charlotte,
NC. Let’s Go Cats!
Eartha Kitt - North,
SCThat voice:
The
Tony, Grammy and Emmy
Award-nominated Eartha
Kitt was born in the
small town of North,
South Carolina, not far
from the state capital
of Columbia. From her
humble beginnings, her
distinctive voice and
talent took her around
the world. Today she
would surely approve of
her hometown area’s vast
cultural and art
opportunities. It’s a
place worth exploring:
Columbia, SC
Andie MacDowell -
Gaffney, SC
Hometown Favorite:
Golden Globe nominated
actress and model Andie
MacDowell is a local
favorite. Now a North
Carolina resident, she
was born in Gaffney, SC,) attended Winthrop
University (the college)
in Rock Hill, and also
lived in Columbia.
For a touch with
stardom, plan a stay at
the charming Blake House
Inn,
in Arden, NC, which once
belonged to Ms.
MacDowell’s family.
Hint: The actress’s
childhood graffiti can
still be found in the
closet of the Holly
Room.
Classic Jazz:
Listening to some of Thelonius
Monk’s standards such as
Round About Midnight,
or Straight, No Chaser, makes you want to hop on the Silver Meteor and ride the rails to the smoky jazz bars in Manhattan. Chances are you’ve heard his distinctive sound as hard-driving background music on classic jazz radio stations, or in urban clubs.
The man’s Carolina roots are shallow, but we’ll claim him anyway. Born in 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in 1922, Thelonius moved with his family to West 63rd Street in Manhattan. He began to play piano at six and was largely self-taught. A high school dropout, he began to find work in jazz clubs in his late teens and developed quite a following during his years as house pianist at Minton’s Playhouse, a Manhattan nightclub.
A contemporary of Dizzy Gillespie (another Carolina musician). Kenny Clarke, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, Thelonius is considered a founder of bebop, although his style evolved away from that sound, and settled into remarkable improvisations that stunned listeners and all who would try to copy his work.
His later years were
haunted by whispers of
mental illness, and he
largely relied on the
support of Baroness Pannonica "Nica" de Koenigswarter,
a member of the Rothschild family and a patroness of several New York City jazz musicians.
He had a number of run-ins with police over illegal drugs and quit performing for years before his death. Thelonius Monk was married and had two children, both living.
Early recordings of live performances of his most notable work can be enjoyed on YouTube, which also showcases his love of hats and sunglasses.
Nicholas Sparks -
New Bern & Southport, NC
Dark secrets,
Love’s passion:
Safe Haven, the
newest of Nicholas
Spark’s novels, explores
life, set in
Southport, NC,
a historic coastal
community in North
Carolina. That this
beloved novelist
captures the mood and
setting of coastal North
Carolina is no accident.
He lives in
New Bern, NC,
and pulls expansively
from the area in setting
his stories of love,
loss and new beginnings.
Edward R. Murrow -
Greensboro, NC"Good night, and good
luck": This
is Greensboro, North
Carolina, birthplace of
pioneering broadcast
journalist Edward R. Murrow. He was born just
outside of town, in
Guilford County, and
today the city boasts a
“Murrow Boulevard” and
statue of the longtime
CBS journalist at the
Greensboro Historical
Museum, among other
tributes. Explore this
thriving business and
cultural community:
Greensboro, NC
James Taylor - Chapel
Hill, NC
In My Mind I’m
Goin’ to Carolina:
Singer-Songwriter
James Taylor has his
roots firmly planted in
the Carolinas, where he
moved to at the tender
age of three when his
father accepted a
position at the
University of North
Carolina School of
Medicine. His family
made their home in
Carrboro, North
Carolina, near Chapel
Hill, where he learned
to play the cello as a
child before later
switching to the guitar.
Today, his memorable
“Carolina In My Mind” is
an anthem here. “Can’t
you see the sunshine?”
Why yes, we do.
Randy Travis - North
Carolina
Country Crooner:
Years before Nashville,
Country Music Star Randy
Travis called North
Carolina home. He was
born there (as Randy
Bruce Traywick) in 1959,
and his father’s dream
was for his second child
to become a country
music singer. At age 16
he entered a talent show
hosted by Country City
USA of
Charlotte
and after winning was
invited to become a Club
regular. The rest, as
they say, is history!
Vanna White - North
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wheel of {Good} Fortune: Vanna White made her
debut on Wheel of
Fortune 27 years ago
this month in December
1982, becoming the first
female co-host of a game
show. Before basking in
the glow of lettered
puzzle boards, however,
she was a Carolina Girl
growing up in North
Myrtle Beach, SC. Today
the resort area of
Myrtle Beach offers its
fair share of excitement
and entertainment.
Explore this area of
family fun: Greater
Myrtle Beach
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