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Tom Southern, also known as Tommy or Thomas Southern,[1] was an actor in American film and stage productions[2] as well as a songwriter. He was a theater actor with the Lafayette Players.[3]

In 1933, he wrote several songs together with Lionel Hampton.[4] For a few years before 1937, Southern was absent from acting in films and theater;[3] the Pittsburgh Courier stated he "gave up acting as a career" around 1936 and became a journalist.[5] In 1938, he was the managing editor for the launch of the magazine Silhouette Pictorial.[5][6]

Southern acted in a supporting role in the Western film, Two-Gun Man from Harlem.[7] He acted in the "all-colored cast" film Mystery in Swing. In a review, the Pittsburgh Courier said he gave the best individual performance by a male.[8] War Perkins of the Chicago Defender newspaper listed Southern and three others as giving the best performances in the film.[9]

Around 1940, Southern partnered with drummer Lionel Hampton on a musical film project, titled From Spirituals to Swing, which was "accepted by the Paramount production department". The film featured Black spirituals and swing music.[2] It was said to have an "all-colored cast".[10] In 1940, Hampton announced that the film would release soon.[11] The movie then "fell through" that year.[1]

According to a copyright, Southern, Hampton, and Otis René wrote a song together for the feature, titled "I'd Be Lost Without You".[1] A record of the song was made at Victor Records in 1940,[12] with Hampton credited for the music and Southern for the lyrics.[13] Lionel Hampton and the King Cole Trio played on the record, with Helen Forrest singing.[12] After the recording, Otis René claimed he was not given a contract for the record and was left uncredited.[1] He stated he intended to sue.[12]

Tom was married to Viola Southern.[14]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Muse, Clarence (29 June 1940). "What's Going on in Hollywood". The Chicago Defender (National edition). p. 21. ProQuest 492572944. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Spirituals to Swing Is Next". The Chicago Defender. 15 June 1940. p. 20. ProQuest 492581255. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Scenes from 'Bargain with Bullets'". The Chicago Defender (National Edition). 14 August 1937. p. 6. ProQuest 492600674. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Hampton Records on Coast". The Pittsburgh Courier. 22 June 1940. p. 20. ProQuest 202082257. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Earl J. Morris Grand Town Day and Night". The Pittsburgh Courier. 5 November 1938. p. 20. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Silhouette Pictorial, Volume 1, Number 1". digitalcollections.oscars.org. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Writes Own Tunes for Colored Film". New York Amsterdam News. 7 October 1939. p. 12. ProQuest 226207409. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Earl Morris Gives 'Mystery in Swing' 3 1/2 Stars". The Pittsburgh Courier. 2 March 1940. p. 20. ProQuest 202085003.
  9. ^ "Globe News and Gossip". The Chicago Defender (National Edition). 2 March 1940. p. 8. ProQuest 492626889.
  10. ^ Levette, Harry (17 June 1940). "Gossip of the Movie Lots". Atlanta Daily World. p. 2. ProQuest 490620876. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Lionel Again: He Collaborates with Southern in a Film". The Chicago Defender. 8 June 1940. p. 20. ProQuest 492648115. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Lamar, Lawrence F. (24 June 1940). "Latest Hampton Waxings Bring Copyright Threat". Atlanta Daily World. p. 2. ProQuest 490620432. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Earl J. Morris Grand Town Day and Night: "I'd Be Lost Without You!"". The Pittsburgh Courier. 26 October 1940. p. 20. ProQuest 202079971. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Thru Hollywood". The Chicago Defender (National Edition). 14 March 1942. p. 19. ProQuest 492596131. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  15. ^ Muse, Clarence (2 December 1939). "What's Going on in Hollywood". The Chicago Defender. p. 21. ProQuest 492544566. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  16. ^ Berry, S. Torriano; Berry, Venise T. (January 26, 2007). Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810864641 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ Maltin, Leonard; Green, Spencer; Edelman, Rob; Scheinfeld, Michael; Weaver, Tom (October 27, 2015). Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide. Penguin. ISBN 9780147516824 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Tom Southern | DREAM13 Media".
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