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Dean Koontz says: “I really believe that everybody has a talent, ability or skill that he can mine to support himself and to succeed in life.”

My father, Eddie Green said: “The best recipe for success that he has is to find something you like to do, and do that the best you know how.”

Well, I’ve found something I like to do. And I have been successful. My friends, family and followers remind me of this a lot. I’ve been interviewed for magazines, on podcasts, on radio programs and I’ve been invited to speak on the books I’ve written at places such as The Los Angeles Breakfast Club, twice! And wonder of all wonders, they sent me an article from their archives that mentions the fact that my father appeared at The Los Angeles Breakfast Club in 1937. (His name is down the page just after Hattie McDaniel’s name). Blew me away! My first book was my father’s biography which was my first Breakfast Club presentation in 2017. I also received a book award that same year.

I was back at the Breakfast Club in 2022 for my second book about the TV sitcom The Jeffersons. The book contains a lovely Foreword by Marla Gibbs and an Endword by Associate Professor John H. McWhorter, an extremely impressive person in my estimation. I am so happy to share this with you. Mr. McWhorter says it is a good source book for you Jefferson fans. Marla is sure you will find the book as interesting as she did.

I am experiencing success in being an inspiration as it has been pointed out to me that before I started writing books, I was a secretary for thirty years. Then I became a Psych major at a local college and a counselor at The Salvation Army. I helped raise my grandson, and I spent a good amount of time with my mom as her illnesses required more and more care. Success can come in many forms. I was successful at being a secretary because working was so much better than being on Welfare-I learned to type 100 wpm, and I’m so glad I did, cause it really helps now. I was successful at counseling because I like people, and that also helps when I get a chance to interview folks for my books. What I am really trying to impart here is that I was a retiree from all of the above before I started my writing journey in earnest. And I didn’t really think much about “success.” I am beginning to see myself in a different light.

Today I have achieved success in finishing the first rough draft of my third book. Yay!! This one has been difficult. Some days it seems I have had to literally pull myself up by the collar from the bed to the chair. I needed the support I got from my social media followers, my daughter, my sister, my friends. I was and still am thankful for those who asked for my help with their projects. I must do one more proofread before I send my manuscript to my publisher. I’ve titled it (temporarily) MAUDE – In her own words: “A real pussycat”

OH! And by the way! Because I was inspired to write a book about my father, Eddie Green, filmmaker, composer, movie star, old time radio star, comedian, singer, dancer, producer, director, TV producer and writer of the 1917 song “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, I am being treated by a company and now good friends, to a trip to England!!! to promote myself and my father and to share the story of our success.

To succeed in life is to find something you like to do, and do that the best you know how.

Books are available on Amazon, at Larry Edmunds Bookshop, BearManor Media and elsewhere online. Peace 🙂

For those new to my blog and to refresh the memory of long time followers, I am posting a few pictures of Eddie’s entertainment life over the years. Eddie Green was my father. He died in 1950. Born in 1891. Over the years Eddie rose from poverty to prominence due to hard work, determination, talent and love for his fellow man. Eddie learned what was necessary to progress in his chosen field, starting out as a “Boy Magician”. He had a knack for comedy and he used his comedic talent to propel him along his way. And he was successful. He pulled himself up from poverty using his talents. From Vaudeville to Burlesque, to Broadway. From early radio and television to becoming the head of his own movie production studio, producing, directing, writing and starring in his own all-black cast films. From appearing in radio productions for the troops during WWII to becoming a major character on one of America’s best loved radio programs “Duffy’s Tavern“, while opening his third movie and television production studio.

While touring as a “Boy Magician” over the years Eddie added songwriting to his list of accomplishments. He wrote “A Good Man is Hard to Find” which he used in 1919 when he took his own show on tour. The show included singing, dancing girls and comedy. While in St. Louis with this show he saw an ad in the local Variety paper for a comic. Eddie sent an outstanding reply and was invited to become a part of a vaudeville show in New York. His performances here and in Burlesque working at the 125th Apollo, earned him inclusion into a hit Broadway musical Hot Chocolates by 1929.

In 1929, not only was he a part of the ensemble of Hot Chocolates, Eddie wrote all of the comedic skits for this show. His name is listed twice. The show ran for 219 performances. Two of the songs would go on to be recorded, one “Big Business” was recorded by Victor Records, and “Sending A Wire”. Sending A Wire would also be made into a Vitaphone short by Warner Bros.

Eventually, Eddie began appearing on the radio. Rudy Vallee introduced him to the radio audience, inviting him over and over due to audience reaction, and during the summer of 1937 Eddie was asked to join Louis Armstrong as co-hosts of the Fleischmann’s Yeast hour while Rudy was on vacation. Eddie had also appeared for a number of weeks as the featured attraction on the Sunday evening NBC “Echoes of New York” program. During the 30’s Eddie also had a “first”. He appeared as one of the very first two Black men on an RCA/NBC television broadcast-but I’m saving this for another post.

Eddie went on to become a filmmaker in 1939 making four movies Dress Rehearsal, What Goes Up, Comes Midnight and One Round Jones among other endeavors. In 1941 he joined the cast of Duffy’s Tavern where he became famous as one of America’s most beloved comedians.

When I started this blog Eddie had almost been completely forgotten. Almost. Despite his many accomplishments in the entertainment world and the business world, despite the many friends he made and how widely he became known, beside myself, there were not a lot of people remembering that old comic, Eddie Green. I have written a biography about my father. (Eddie Green The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer, get it on Amazon). Since I wrote the book I have had someone tell me that I stopped the process of my father being erased from history. Wow.

I mainly started the project to show my young (at the time) grandson what a person could do regardless of the obstacles life throws at us. But as I researched my father’s life I realized that his story, so full of inspirational stories, could help so many people. That his story as a Black man born in 1891 could prove to be motivational to Black people for sure, but also to anyone who feels that the odds are against them. Maybe you have someone in your family you could write about. Or you just have some inspirational stories you think might be of help to others if they only knew about them. You too can stop the process of someone being erased from history.

Hey, thanks, for stopping by.