2004 National Memorial Day Concert Performer Biographies

Ossie Davis

Distinguished actor, director, producer and World War II veteran Ossie Davis hosts the National Memorial Day Concert for the eleventh year. This multi-talented star has had an extraordinary life and career that has taken him from the stage, television and movies to the forefront of the civil rights movement. After making his film debut in Now Way Out with Sidney Poitier, he has appeared in such films as Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Dr. Doolittle, Get On The Bus, I'm Not Rappaport and Bubba Ho-tep. Davis' small screen debut was in the 1995 production of The Emperor Jones, in the title role, with other credits including Promised Land, Touched By An Angel and Evening Shade. He received Emmy Award nominations for his work in Teacher, Teacher; King and Miss Evers' Boys; in 2001, Davis was awarded a Daytime Emmy for playing the title role in the children's special Finding Buck McHenry. His television writing credits include episodes of East Side/West Side and the teleplay For Us, The Living, for which he received the Neil Simon Jury Award. Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee have produced several television specials, including Today is Ours, Martin Luther King: The Dream & The Drum. They also co-produced the series With Ossie & Ruby, which aired for three seasons. In 1961, Davis wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed Purlie Victorious. He was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2001, Davis and his wife actress Ruby Dee received the 37th Life Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild. In 1998, the couple marked their 50th wedding anniversary with the publication of their joint autobiography, With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together. Davis' most recent play, A Last Dance for Sybil, received a workshop production in New York during New Federal Theater's 2002 season.

Tom Hanks

One of the worlds most admired and respected actors today, Tom Hanks also holds the distinction of being the first actor in 50 years to be awarded back-to-back Best Actor Academy Awards. In 1993, he was rewarded for his compelling performance as the AIDS stricken lawyer in Philadelphia, and the following year he won the Oscar for his outstanding performance in Forrest Gump. He also won Golden Globes for both of these performances. Throughout the success of Forrest Gump (which has become the fourth largest grossing movie in history), Hanks has won a Golden Globe Award, a Peoples Choice Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Chicago Film Critics Award, a National Association of Theater Owners Male Star of the Year Award and the Hollywood Women's Press Club Award. In addition to the many honors Hanks has received, he was named "Man of the Year" by Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals (the nations oldest undergraduate dramatic group), for his performance as astronaut Jim Lovell in Ron Howard's Apollo 13. His many other credits include starring in Steven Spielberg's feature film Saving Private Ryan, playing a soldier who went deep behind enemy lines to save a trapped private during WWII's Allied invasion, for which he received an Oscar nomination. In 2000, he served as executive producer for the HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers, which received wide-scale critical acclaim and a Golden Globe win. The series chronicled a group of paratroopers through training, their battles on D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and their capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest. Hanks can currently be seen in the Coen brothers dark comedy The Ladykillers. His next film is The Terminal directed by Stephen Spielberg and co-starring Catherine Zeta Jones. Hanks currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Rita Wilson, and their family.

Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss, at the age of 32, has achieved more career milestones than most people do in their lifetime. Her first album was released when she was 16. She has released nine studio albums with her long time band of highly acclaimed musicians, Union Station, all on Rounder Records. Their most recent release is a two-disc live set, accompanied by a two-disc DVD, all released on her original label, Rounder Records. To date, she has earned 17 Grammy Awards, multiple Country Music Association Awards and International Bluegrass Music Awards and countless others. Her album releases have been critical and commercial successes, with multiple RIAA platinum and gold certified records. Alison has been involved in several movie soundtracks, most recently singing the Golden Globe nominated song "My Ain True Love" and "The Scarlett Tide" for Cold Mountain and "What'll I Do" for Mona Lisa Smile. Alison recorded three songs for the blockbuster soundtrack O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Union Station member Dan Tyminski sang the Soggy Bottom Boys' hit "Man of Constant Sorrow." Dan, with other bandmates Jerry Douglas, Barry Bales and Ron Block, contributed heavily to that soundtrack and also appeared in the movie. Alison Krauss and Union Station were also part of the award winning documentary film and soundtrack Down From the Mountain and the subsequent tour. Other film projects that Alison has contributed to include: Twister; Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; and The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. Over the past year, Alison Krauss and Union Station made more than a dozen major television appearances and were featured in countless national magazines and publications and completed a US tour supporting their Live release. Alison is also recognized as an acclaimed record producer (Nickel Creek, The Cox Family) and has contributed as an instrumentalist or vocalist on albums of every genre-classical, jazz, pop, country, bluegrass and even polka.

Brad Paisley

Not long after the release of his debut album, Who Needs Pictures, in May of 1999, singer/songwriter/guitarist Brad Paisley became the most nominated and most-awarded new artist in country music. This critically-acclaimed platinum-certified album produced two number one hits, both of which Paisley co-wrote garnering him a CMA Horizon Award, an ACM Award for "Top New Male" and a Grammy nomination for "Best New Artist." He followed this album up with his sophomore release Part II in 2001, which featured the hit singles Wrapped Around and I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song). Riding on the success of his recent number one hit single, "Celebrity," Brad is currently burning up the charts again with his second single Little Moments. His next single, off the critically acclaimed gold album Mud on the Tires is "Whiskey Lullaby, a duet with Alison Krauss. Paisley was recently honored with three Academy of Country Music nominations for "Album of the Year" for Mud on the Tires, "Launch Video of the Year" for his single Celebrity and a nomination for "Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year." Since his debut, Brad has achieved both a respectable place in the country genre and an extremely loyal fan base. The CMA has showered him with a total of 13 nominations and two more trophies - the 2001 "Vocal Event" award and the 2002 "Music Video" trophy - but his most treasured honor was his 2001 induction to the Grand Ole Opry. Paisley was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia, a Mayberry-esque (pop. 1,800) town. When he was only eight years old, his grandfather, a nightshift railroad worker who spent his afternoons playing guitar, gave him a gift, a Sears guitar with an amp in the case. Young Paisley mastered it quickly and soon he and his guitar were inseparable. For more information, visit www.bradpaisley.com.

Jason Ritter

Jason Ritter currently stars in the CBS drama Joan of Arcadia, and recently completed the feature film Happy Endings, with Lisa Kudrow, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Tom Arnold, and directed by Don Roos. His feature film credits include Mumford, directed by Lawrence Kasdan, Swimfan, Freddy vs. Jason, and Heart of Summer, opposite Hillary Duff. Among Ritter's television credits are guest-starring roles on Hack, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and the movie The Dreamer of Oz. His theater credits include the Off-Broadway production of The Beginning of August, also starring Mary Steenburgen, and the role of 'Tim' in the world premiere of Neil LaBute's play The Distance from Here at London's Almeida Theatre. Ritter is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied at the Atlantic Theatre Company. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He is the son of actors John Ritter and Nancy Morgan, and the grandson of famed film cowboy Tex Ritter.

Charles Durning

Charles Durning is one of America's premier character actors. After his heroic participation in World War II, where he earned three Purple Hearts and the Silver Star for valor, Durning spent the next four decades making his mark in theater, film and television. In 1973, he was cast in a breakthrough supporting role in George Roy Hill's The Sting. Nominated for two Academy Awards, four Emmy awards and the winner of a Tony Award, he continues to delight audiences and critics alike. Durning's stage work includes his critically acclaimed 1997 return to Broadway starring opposite Julie Harris in the revival of The Gin Game and an equally impressive performance in the revival of the Pulitzer prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross. He won a Tony for his portrayal of Big Daddy in the 1990 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In 2001, he played the role of Pappy O'Daniel in the comedy O Brother, Where Art Thou? and also appeared in the movie State and Main. Durning's additional motion picture credits include One Fine Day, Spy Hard, The Hudsucker Proxy, Dick Tracy, True Confessions, The Greek Tycoon, Sharkey's Machine, Dog Day Afternoon, Home for the Holidays and The Grass Harp. His soon to be released films include Forget About It, Murder on the Hudson and A Boyfriend for Christmas, where he plays Santa Claus. A series regular on television's Evening Shade with Burt Reynolds, Durning's other television work includes roles in The Kennedys of Massachusetts, Death of a Salesman, Dinner at Eight and Mrs. Santa Claus, as well as the narration for Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony. His notable guest appearances on television include recurring roles on Everybody Loves Raymond, The Practice, Cybill and Early Edition.

Joe Mantegna

Joe Mantegna has received critical acclaim for his award-winning and highly praised performances on the stage and in numerous film and television productions. His latest role is as police chief Will Girardi on the smash hit CBS series Joan of Arcadia. He was awarded the Tony and Joseph Jefferson Awards for his role in David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross. His long-standing association with Mamet includes the premiere of A Life in the Theatre and The Disappearance of the Jews at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, his native city. Mantegna has also directed a highly lauded production of Mamet's Lakeboat which enjoyed a successful theatrical run in Los Angeles. In the world of film, he has starred in The Godfather III, Alice, Celebrity, Liberty Heights, Bugsy and Forget Paris and can be seen in the upcoming films Uncle Nino, Stateside and in the title role in Pontormo, based on the life of the Italian Renaissance painter. He starred in the critically acclaimed Mamet film House of Games and his later film Things Change, for which he received the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival. Always the baseball fan, Joe co-wrote the Off-Broadway play Bleacher Bums, which earned him an Emmy when it was subsequently produced for television. For his work in the HBO special The Rat Pack, he was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Dean Martin. In 2002, Mantegna starred in the CBS series First Monday. He can be heard in the recurring role of Fat Tony on the Fox series The Simpsons and made his feature film directorial debut with Lakeboat, which has a screenplay by David Mamet and stars Robert Forster, Andy Garcia and Charles Durning. Mantegna was recently named Chairperson for the 2004 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This organization helps focus public attention on VA medical centers with the goal of increasing the number of VA volunteers. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, he now lives in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.joemantegna.com.

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Dubbed "the last leading man" by the New York Times, Brian Stokes Mitchell's spectacular Broadway career most recently includes starring as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha for which he received the Helen Hayes Award and Tony and Drama Desk nominations. He won the 2000 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Best Leading Actor in a Musical" for his performance as Fred Graham/Petruchio in Kiss Me Kate. Stokes has performed numerous times at Carnegie Hall, making his debut at the 1988 televised Gershwin Gala with the San Francisco Symphony and recently performed at L.A.'s Disney Concert Hall gala opening under the baton of John Williams. Some Washington, D.C. credits include Sweeney Todd and King Hedley II at the Kennedy Center and In Performance at the White House. He has had recurring roles on Frasier and Crossing Jordan with other credits including Dreamworks' The Prince of Egypt, and countless other TV credits that began with a seven year stint on Trapper John, M.D. He has appeared on more than a dozen albums and is currently completing his first solo CD featuring best-loved Broadway tunes. The youngest of four children, Stokes was born in Seattle, WA. His father, who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, subsequently worked as a civilian electronics engineer for the Navy which took the family to bases in the Philippines and Guam. Stokes has done two overseas stints with the USO. Voted one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," he currently resides in New York City with his wife and son. For more information, visit www.brianstokes.com.

Joshua Bell

Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell has been captivating audiences around the globe for more than 20 years. Known for his poetic musicality, Joshua first came to national attention at age 14 when he made his highly acclaimed orchestral debut with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. That performance, soon followed by his Carnegie Hall debut, an Avery Fisher career grant and recording contract, created a sensation that spread throughout the music world. Now in his thirties, Joshua has performed with nearly every leading symphony orchestra and conductor, recorded 27 albums and has earned the rare title of classical music superstar. Portions of his best selling CD from Sony Classical, Romance of the Violin, were featured on his PBS special Live From Lincoln Center, Joshua Bell at the Penthouse airing January 14, 2004. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, and now conductor, Joshua Bell's career is exceptionally varied. Joshua's 2003-04 season includes chamber music in Aspen, Gstaad and Saratoga, concerto performances with the London Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra, a German tour as soloist/orchestra leader with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and a US recital tour with pianist Simon Mulligan. The highlight of Joshua's season is the premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Corigliano's Concerto for Violin & Orchestra ("The Red Violin") which Joshua debuted in Baltimore and performed in Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Joshua has recorded a diverse collection of albums since joining Sony Classical in 1996 including the Grammy Award-winning Maw violin concerto, and he was responsible for all violin sound for the film The Red Violin, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Joshua holds an Artist Diploma from Indiana University. He resides in New York City, where he spends his free time practicing his violin, the "Gibson Ex-Huberman" Stradivarius. For more information, visit www.joshuabell.com.

Marin Mazzie

Born in Rockford, Illinois, Marin Mazzie attended Western Michigan University, where she majored in theater and minored in music. While in college, she began interning and then performing at the Barn Theatre in Michigan where she earned her Equity card and met her agent. In 1997, she married the actor Jason Danieley (Candide, Floyd Collins, The Full Monty) whom she met while performing in the off Broadway production of Trojan Women: A Love Story. Marin started out in New York City with her club act, a trio called J. Glitz (which included Jonathan Larson, creator of Rent and Scott Burkell). Marin's first Broadway role was replacing Patti Cohenour as Mary Jane Wilkes in Big River. She has been nominated for 3 Tony Awards: as Best Featured Actress in 1994's Passion; as Best Leading Actress in 1998's Ragtime; and as Best Leading Actress in 2000's Kiss Me, Kate. In 2000, she won the Outer Critic's Circle Award for her portrayal as Lilli Vanessi/Katharine in KMK, was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from her alma mater, and was also honored with a caricature at New York's infamous Sardi's. In 2001, Marin made her West End debut in London's Kiss Me, Kate, for which she was nominated for the prestigious Olivier Award. Marin has also appeared in numerous concerts and special events all over the country, including performances at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, concerts with the San Francisco Symphony, Boston Pops, Philly Pops, and many others. Marin is also featured on numerous cast recordings and compilation CDs.

Erich Kunzel

"America's premier conductor of pops" according to the Washington Post, Erich Kunzel has conducted concert and opera performances in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia and his many television performances and recordings sold world-wide have made him a global superstar. He is Music Director of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Music Advisor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Pops and regularly conducts the orchestras of Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston Pops, Cleveland and Los Angeles, among many others. During the 2004-05 season, Kunzel returns to Japan for performances in the Tokyo International Festival, to Taiwan for concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra, and to Vienna for a new production of The Sound of Music. Maestro Kunzel has made more than 100 recordings, making him the most successful Billboard Classical Crossover Artist in history. Recent releases include: Epics, featuring theme music from recent blockbuster films; Got Swing; Scary Music; and A Celtic Spectacular. The 2001-02 release of Music of the Beatles with the British sextet King's Singers as soloists was a phenomenal success. Honors have included the Grand Prix du Disque in Europe, the Tiffany Walkman Award by Sony, numerous Grammy nominations, a Grammy Award in 1998 and his Magical Music of Disney was named Billboard's number one Top Independent Classical Album. Since 1991, Kunzel has conducted the National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth.

The National Symphony Orchestra

The National Symphony Orchestra of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, under the music direction of Leonard Slatkin, is recognized not only nationally but internationally as well, and is considered one of the world's finest ensembles. The Orchestra, which maintains an extensive concert schedule in this country and abroad, is distinguished for its commitment to the music and musicians of this country through its American residency program now in its 12th year and for projects like the National Conducting Institute, a prestigious training opportunity for gifted conductors. The Orchestra provides free public concerts on the Mall in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day weekends.