Video
The Storytime Show
Francois Clemmons was featured on Season 2, Episode 1 of Jason Williams’ “The Storytime Show with Story J.” The episode contains a read aloud of Derrick Barnes’ modern classic, “I Am Every Good Thing,” and the long-awaited animated tribute and story “Little Black Panther.” Francois’ segment of the episode begins at 16:30.
DivaMan: A Documentary
This film follows the life and journey of Dr. Francois Scarborough Clemmons, tenor. He is an accomplished singer (Grammy Award winner), conductor, arranger, professor, civil rights activist, and television star (Peabody and Emmy Award-winning Mister Roger’s Neighborhood), that has had an international career stretching from the late 1960’s to current day. His retirement in the Spring of 2013 from the role of “Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence” at Middlebury College prompted me to take a look into his distinguished past and continually promising future. – Hunter Nolan
Note to Self: Francois Reflects on “Mister Rogers”
For more than three decades, Fred Rogers entertained and educated children with his popular TV program, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” His legacy is documented in the new film, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” One of those neighbors was Officer Clemmons, played by François Clemmons, who broke ground by becoming one of the first African-Americans with a recurring role on a children’s TV series. In our series, Note to Self, Clemmons writes to his younger self about the transformational experience.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Francois Clemmons was Officer Clemmons on MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD & talks with Patrick Stoner about Mr. Rogers as a person & his own experiences as a black, gay man.
The Officer of Make Believe: Being Black in ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’
Remember Officer Clemmons, the policeman from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”? Actor Francois Clemmons was initially reluctant to take the role. Growing up in the late ’60s, Clemmons didn’t have a positive opinion of the cops at the time. But Fred Rogers convinced him, and Clemmons became one of the first black actors to have a recurring role in a children’s TV program.
StoryCorps: In the Neighborhood
If you grew up watching “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” some of the voices in this week’s podcast will bring back memories.
François Clemmons was singing in a Pittsburgh-area church when he first met Fred Rogers. Taken by his voice, Fred asked François to join the cast of his new television show as singing policeman Officer Clemmons. He would go on to play the role for 25 years, becoming the first African American actor to have a recurring part on a children’s TV show.
Performance at Middlebury College
One of Francois’ many performances at Middlebury College.
It Ain’t Necessarily So
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International Gershwin: Porgy and Bess / Act 2 – “It Ain’t Necessarily So” · Francois Clemmons · Florence Quivar · Barbara Conrad · McHenry Boatwright · The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus · The Cleveland Orchestra · Lorin Maazel Gershwin: Porgy & Bess ℗ 1976 Decca Music Group Limited Released on: 1976-01-01 Author, Composer: George Gershwin Author, Composer: Ira Gershwin Composer, Author: DuBose Heyward Author, Composer: Dorothy Heyward Auto-generated by YouTube.
I Hates Yo’ Struttin’…Mornin, Lawyer…Dey’s a Buckra
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International Gershwin: Porgy and Bess / Act 2 – “I Hates Yo’ Struttin’…Mornin, Lawyer…Dey’s a Buckra.”
Wake Up An’ Hit It Out!…That You, Sportin’ Life?
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International Gershwin: Porgy and Bess / Act 1 – “Wake Up An’ Hit It Out!…That You, Sportin’ Life?”
There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International Gershwin: Porgy and Bess / Act 3 – “There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin'” · Francois Clemmons · Leona Mitchell · The Cleveland Orchestra · Lorin Maazel Gershwin: Porgy & Bess ℗ 1976 Decca Music Group Limited Released on: 1976-01-01 Composer, Author: George Gershwin Composer, Author: Ira Gershwin Author, Composer: DuBose Heyward Author, Composer: Dorothy Heyward Auto-generated by YouTube.
Francois sings “Gamaliel Painter’s Cane”
Francois sings ‘Gamaliel Painter’s Cane’ at the Commencement Exercises at Middlebury College (beginning at 6:10). Each year at Middlebury’s commencement, graduates receive a diploma, of course, but they also receive an unusual keepsake – a finely crafted replica of Gamaliel Painter’s cane. The cane as a symbol of the college’s rich history has had many iterations over the past two centuries. Here’s the story of why the cane has endured for so long as a cherished Middlebury tradition.
Mahaney Center for the Arts
Dr. Francois Scarborough Clemmons, the Middlebury College Diva, performed at the Mahaney Center for the Arts on October 8, 2010, as part of the fall weekend for parents and family. After a solo performance of selected Negro spirituals, he was joined by the Martin Luther King Chorale as well as the MIddlebury College Chorus and Orchestra.
This Little Light of Mine
Dr. Francois Scarborough Clemmons sings “This Little Light of Mine” at Middlebury College.