Ask American Profile
Buffy Sainte-Marie, Travis Tritt, Robert Taylor.
—Mary F., Kansas
Buffy Sainte-Marie recorded 17 albums; the most recent one, Up Where We Belong, in which she re-recorded her biggest hits, was released in 1996. She still sings, doing about 30 concerts a year, but spends most of her time working with the Cradleboard Teaching Project, which educates children about American Indian culture. She also creates digital art on a computer, and her work hangs in numerous museums in the United States and Canada. On top of all that, she also teaches digital art as an adjunct professor in several United States colleges. Born on a Cree Reservation in Saskatchewan, Canada, Sainte-Marie was raised in New England. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Oriental philosophy and a doctorate in fine arts. Originally intending to become a teacher, she got caught up in the folk music movement of the 1960s when she visited Greenwich Village in New York City. She’s written hit songs recorded by Elvis Presley (Until It’s Time For You To Go) and Donovan (Universal Soldier). She won an Oscar in 1981 for her song, Up Where We Belong, which was sung by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes for the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. She currently lives in Hawaii, and is the 2003 spokesperson for UNESCO Canada.
Country artist Travis Tritt seems to sing a wide range of music. Can you tell me something about his career as a singer?
—George C., Louisiana
The singer and songwriter has had 12 Number 1 hits, two Grammy awards, three Country Music Association awards, and sold more than 18 million albums. Born in Marietta, Ga., Tritt taught himself how to play guitar at age 8 and began writing songs when he was 14. He sang in a gospel youth choir and played in bands as a teenager. A friend who had wanted to be a musician encouraged Tritt to follow his dreams and Tritt quit his job and struggled with music, finally signing a record deal. His first Top 10 hit was Country Club. Tritt, 40, has had songs on nine major movie soundtrack albums and has had acting roles on television and in movies. He took a two-year hiatus from music in 1998 to spend time with his wife, Theresa, and their new daughter. (They have since added a son to their family.) Tritt returned in 2000 with the million-selling album Down the Road I Go. He recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His latest album, Strong Enough, was released last September.
A group of us “senior citizens” would really appreciate anything you can tell us about our favorite actor, Robert Taylor.
—Katheryn W., Oregon
The handsome leading man died in 1969 of cancer at age 57. Robert Taylor’s big break was his role as a reckless playboy opposite Irene Dunne in Magnificent Obsession. Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Neb., Taylor was once billed as “The Man with the Perfect Profile.” Taylor, who played the cello in his school band, studied music in college before becoming an actor. He became a top romantic lead and one of the most popular actors of the 1930s. Taylor married actress Barbara Stanwyck in 1939, and the couple remained friends even though they divorced in 1951. His second wife, and widow, is actress Ursula Thiess. Taylor turned to television in 1959, playing police detective Matt Holbrook in The Dectectives from 1959 to 1962. He replaced actor Ronald Reagan as the narrator of the Western show Death Valley Days when Reagan opted for a full-time political career. Other movie roles included Armand opposite screen legend Greta Garbo in Camille, and Waterloo Bridge opposite Vivien Leigh.
Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos
