He was the classic leading man in Broadway musicals. Great voice, handsome man and completely comfortable in his own personal talent. A joy to watch. Great performer... 👍
I was eight years old when I saw Kismet with the original cast. I can still see Alfred Drake sitting downstage left, singing "Fate." It was one of the great experiences of my life.
The timbre in his magnificent voice made him instantly identifiable as the great Alfred Drake! Grateful that we have recordings of the shows in which he starred, and postings such as this to savior!
This is a true treat. Alfred Drake was in top form reprising his Broadway performances. He was a top musical comedy star back in the day. I particularly enjoyed his “Wandering” from the little known “Sing Out Sweet Land” show.
Yes....He was THE Broadway leading man. Growing up I heard the albums Oklahoma, Kiss me Kate, and Kismet. I never saw much of him in movies or much on TV . I was always fascinated how the same actor/singer who played Fred/Petruchio from KMK could have possibly been the ORIGINAL Curly from Oklahoma. He was perfect as Fred in KMK as Drake also did Shakespearean plays. In Richard Burton's Broadway Hamlet he played King Claudius!
This is so personal, it’s perilous to express it. But I must. I’m going on 69 years of age. Almost certainly the first music I ever connected with as a child of 3 or four was a 78 rpm recording of Alfred Drake in the original cast of Oklahoma. That ground-breaking show, Kiss Me Kate, and Kismet have obsessed me from that moment to this very day. This video, viewed only minutes ago, is the first time I’ve ever seen Mr. Drake perform in the flesh. It’s impossible to convey how completely I’m blown away. If it’s possible to love a dead man with all one’s heart and soul, then I love this brilliant genius, this immortal icon of American theater.
I saw this (Kiss Me Kate) on Broadway in 2000 +/- and at Stratford (Ontario) in 2010. This is a great treat...how did you unearth this gem? The BBC surely did this performance justice.
In 1985 I had the wonderful opportunity to see and hear Alfred Drake in KISMET in the London production! My husband and I bought the recording and played it in its various forms (disc, 45, casette tape, and CD) for many years. I still have a copy. He was the most charismatic Broadway star I ever had the joy to see and hear! Unique and outstanding! It was a great joy to see him once again tonight. Thank you, You Tube.
It may have been many years ago but what a delight to be reminded of this wonderful artist whom l saw in Kismet at the Stoll theatre all those years agp
when you listen to this remarkable voice - realize that there were no sound systems for the singers . There were full orchestras to sing over .. We were still in the realm of almost Grand Opera ..
They don't have many talent on broadway with his voice ,his depth of acting , his charisma, they do not make them . How very sad for Broadway and for audiences. Alfred Drake was magnificent in every way
Best singing. Best vowels. Best acting, a triple accomplishment. During my teen years, an aunt and uncle came back from a trip with a program of the musical Kismet. Alfred Drake was on the cover, in his costume as Hajj the wealthy, reclining on pillows, grinning at his own reflection in a hand-held mirror. I remember thinking "Handsome, how does he sound when he sings? and what is kismet?" Thanks for posting.
Saw him in the Lincoln Center revival of KISMET. Patricia Morrison played Lalume and Henry CALVIN (the original Wazir, plus Sgt GARCIA on ZORRO!) was the Wazir. A marvelous production! Have seen it twice since, but no one comes anywhere near Alfred Drake! So marvelous!
Unfortunately, most people only know Henry Calvin from his role as Sgt. Garcia and his attempt at an Oliver Hardy impersonation in the Disney film, "Babes In Toyland".
Alfred Drake is simply AMAZING here. I never saw him live, but I've been so impressed with his talent on records. HOW could ten people have given him a "thumbs down"?
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I grew up listening to the original broadway musicals. My mother told me about Alfred Drake so often, I thought I had actually seen the shows! This is truly a treasure. I'm emailing it to my brother and friends. What a voice. What a man!
I am nuts about Alfred Drake and only knew him from his superb recordings of Broadway shows, but he really had a great bass/baritone voice.. and what an interpreter and handsome too. !
This is a real treat for me because previously I had only heard him on some scratchy old LPs I borrowed from the library. I think he's got the most expressive, smooth, rich and elegant bass voice in 20th century musical theater--speaking and singing.
I DID THE LEAD IN "KISS ME KATE" IN SUMMER STOCK, IN NEW LONDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE..........GREAT EXPERIENCE...& A LOT OF FUN WITH GREAT CAST & CREW.........JACK R. ENGLISH..ACTOR / SINGER. ....WEST.HOLLYWOOD
Thank you so much for positing this wonderful selection. Alfred Drake was truly an amazing baritone with such a rich voice. One of my favorites. Broadway baritones today are pale in comparison.
I was fortunate to see Drake in a revival of Kismet in Toronto in the mid-50s. Great voice, of course, but an excellent, and somewhat under-rated actor. His physical acting in "Gesitculate" was spectacular (he took an even longer pause before the final "fool" in the Olive Tree than here, which was even more effective). He did an excellent Claudius in Richard Burton's 1964 film of Hamlet. He was also reportedly quite a womanizer, once famously shot down by Kate Hepburn.
This is absolutely gorgeous. What an afternoon treat to have found here!! 😃 Kismet is probably my favorite musical. (Impossible, tho, to choose a favorite!) The lovely, lovely score, the incomparable Alfred Drake and Doretta Morrow (particularly, Alfred Drake's virtuosity), all of it! As often as I have listened to my original cast recording, certain words in the lyric were not clear. Through this video, there isn't a word left that I cannot decipher! KISMET's lyrics are so, so witty ("sharpen up the edges of your wit"!), clever, touching and beautiful. Whoever found and brought this here, thank you. It is a joy...😊 Jan
Kismet was on Broadway the year I was born. But it became my favorite musical after growing up listening to charismatic Alfred Drake as Haj the beggar, Beautiful Doretta Morrow as Marcena, the beggar's daughter & the wonderful Richard Kiley as the young Caliph, singing Night of my Nights. Truly beautiful lyrics set to Borodin's Polevetzian Dances. . I still love listening to it.
Goodness, what it must have been to see him live in "kismet".....suddenly Howard Keel feels like a very pale imitation...what an extraordinary voice, the phrasing, the delivery...I finally get it!
It was AMAZING! I saw him twice in it in a revival in Los Angeles in the 60's. I agree with Stephen Sondheim that it was probably the best musical theatre performance ever.
I will tell you what it was like to see Alfred Drake in Kismet! It was something I will remember until my dying day. He was wonderful! I saw him in NYC in the 1960s! Just spectacular.
They chose Howard Keel in Kismet and Kiss Me Kate and Gordon Mc Rae in Oklahoma because they were taller and more handsome.But Drake was a better artist
Marc Miller was I think right to question the year of this broadcast. Alfred Drake was in England again in June 1960 to appear in First Night, a BBC TV special to mark the opening of their new Television Centre studios on June 29th 1960. On October 30th 1960 he starred in his own BBC Sunday "Showtime" special, which is what this show would appear to be. It was no doubt taped in the new BBC studios to help the Corporation justify Drake's doubtless very substantial talent fee by getting an extra hour of performance out of him.
What an incredible gift to all of us! To be able to see Alfred Drake doing songs from both Oklahoma and Kismet is incredible. Luckily, we have KISS ME KATE as a telecast but video is 23 minutes of perfection. Young Broadway leading-men-to-be, watch this man. He is the master of charisma and restraint. He does no more than what is needed - allowing the song and the character to emerge in their full glory.
No worries. I forgive you. Any Alfred Drake fan is my friend ... etc. He was Broadway's greatest leading man back in the day.. Wonderful to see his performances after all these years.
Only 15, I was fortunate to have seen Alfred Drake in the wonderful, but short-lived musical, Kean, in late 1961. I suspect it was far too literate for the typical Broadway audience of that era to survive, but fortunately, the cast album is easily available on CD or vinyl. (I have both.) Having seen many baritones since, I believe Alfred was one of the best Broadway baritones of all time.
It was alist of the best Broadway baritones and he is the number one followed byh John Raitt,Jerry Orbach,Hugh Jackman,Richard Kiley,Robert Goulet,George Hearn, Norm Lewis,Bryan Stokes Mitchell and others.For me Drake and Raitt were the leading Broadway baritones
I treasured my vinyl copy of Kean and finally wore it out. I was so happy when it was finally released on CD. I've often wondered why the show is never revived. The score is brilliant. (And the source material is from Sartre and Dumas so how had could the book be?)
Oh, he was the best there was -- the phrasing, the low notes, the enunciation, the acting, the star quality. Thank you for finding this. But I strongly suspect it's not the 1950s. The orchestrations, the makeup on his silent leading lady, the set, the video quality, and his own looks seem to place it around "Kean" or "Zenda," in the 1960s. Can anyone track where this is from?
He would have been 100 this year. A bygone era. Opera, musical comedy. Today all the singers need mikes to be heard. Having a good agency is more important than having talent or a good voice.
What a superb voice. I wonder why no Hollywood studio signed him up for its male musical leads. Forget Howard Keel and Mario Lanza. Alfred Drake was the best.
Politics was the reason. He was on the "black list" during the late 40's/early 50's which didn't impact working on the stage but the major movie studios were another matter. He did a few smaller straight roles later in his career and did a lot of television work from the late 50's onwards, both musical & straight acting
He was excellent indeed. But forget Mario Lanza? You're having a laugh....Alfred Drake was a bass, Lanza a magnificent tenor. .Lanza had the greatest natural voice of the 20th and another century.
Drake was a baritone and sadly Gordon Mac Rae and Howard Keel played his parts in the movies,Maybe he was old for Curly in1955 but he could have been in both Kiss me Kate and Kismet. movies ,In 1958 he and Partricia Morison reprised their roles in a tv performance and for me they were better than Grayson and Keel inthe MGM movie
Alfred Drake was disgustingly "named" in Red Channels (the publication of the blacklist). It wouldn't surprise me if he was in London just to get away from the stinking political environment in the USA, as many other blacklistees did. Incredible singer and classical actor... one of the truly great talents in Broadway history.
Exactly what’s missing from the Bway stage today, a leading man who employs no tricks or frills, only strength and honest emotion. And as a gay man myself, may I say not a hint of iffiness. That’s necessary if you’re playing these roles.
I only saw Alfred Drake once on stage -in the ill-advised stage version of GIGI...and he was incredible, singing those songs made famous by Chavalier andmaking his own. Critic Walter Kerr's review was headlined: "Thank HeavenFor Alfred Drake." How true!
He auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera along with his brother. The brother, Arthur Kent, won and sang for a number of seasons at the MET. Drake sang opera and classical songs for this audition. This was all before "Oklahoma!" of course.
@@ashtonjoliet Correct, Ashton! How nice to see someone has the right facts. Alfred always told people that his older brother, Arthur, had the finer voice. They were very close, loved each other dearly. Arthur Kent was my father, and only did a few seasons at the Met before the Korean war caused his re-call into the Army.
Drake originated the role of Curley in "Oklahoma". It is a baritone role and Gordon MacRae (a baritone) sang the role in the movie. Today "bari-tenors" tend to sing it, which to me doesn't sound as rich.
@@GrandFanale For some reason, there's a trend for male singers today to sing in their upper registers. I think it might possibly be because of the more "tenor" sound found in pop music.
Anyone else notice that he's completely pre-occupied with fixing his cuff links? Every time he finishes a song or start talking before a song, he's fidgeting around with those damn cuff links LOL!
Drake was an excelent musical baritone but he could have sang opera if he had wanted. He is in marveleus videos :Kiss Me kate with Patricia Morison, The yeamon of the guard with Celeste Holm and Barbara Cook and Naughty Marieta with Patricia Munsell.Happily we can see al this performances in video.He was born in 1914 and died in 1992. He and John Raitt(1917-2005) were the leading male Broadway stars.
What a super Escamillo -- the Toreador in Carmen -- Alfred Drake would have been. With that voice and presence, why did he spurn opera? Have to face facts, not everyone thinks opera is the greatest thing since Vaseline.
Jimmy there are great singers who didnt want to sing opera and Drake was one of them and also Raitt ,Cook, ,Andrews and othersThey preferred the musicals.Drake was born inthe time when here were great baritones Warren, London, Merrill, Gobbi, etc and he knew that he would be better in the musicals. I agree he could have been excellent as Escamillo, Hamlet and other operartic roles.,
This sort of music will never be popular, and why, you could understand every word he sang, not one 4 letter word was uttered, no give me some unwashed punk with bits of metal protruding from face and body , mouthing the same 3 words over and over, writing on the back of toilet paper while spaced out with drugs, yes my friends this music will live on for ever, well at least until tomorrow.
He was the classic leading man in Broadway musicals. Great voice, handsome man and completely comfortable in his own personal talent. A joy to watch. Great performer... 👍
I was eight years old when I saw Kismet with the original cast. I can still see Alfred Drake sitting downstage left, singing "Fate." It was one of the great experiences of my life.
Wow, a youtube treasure. Just fantastic. So great spending time with him.
The timbre in his magnificent voice made him instantly identifiable as the great Alfred Drake! Grateful that we have recordings of the shows in which he starred, and postings such as this to savior!
This is a true treat. Alfred Drake was in top form reprising his Broadway performances. He was a top musical comedy star back in the day. I particularly enjoyed his “Wandering” from the little known “Sing Out Sweet Land” show.
Yes....He was THE Broadway leading man. Growing up I heard the albums Oklahoma, Kiss me Kate, and Kismet. I never saw much of him in movies or much on TV . I was always fascinated how the same actor/singer who played Fred/Petruchio from KMK could have possibly been the ORIGINAL Curly from Oklahoma. He was perfect as Fred in KMK as Drake also did Shakespearean plays. In Richard Burton's Broadway Hamlet he played King Claudius!
It's so great to have this record of Drake doing all his famous roles.....what a treasure!
This is so personal, it’s perilous to express it. But I must. I’m going on 69 years of age. Almost certainly the first music I ever connected with as a child of 3 or four was a 78 rpm recording of Alfred Drake in the original cast of Oklahoma. That ground-breaking show, Kiss Me Kate, and Kismet have obsessed me from that moment to this very day. This video, viewed only minutes ago, is the first time I’ve ever seen Mr. Drake perform in the flesh. It’s impossible to convey how completely I’m blown away. If it’s possible to love a dead man with all one’s heart and soul, then I love this brilliant genius, this immortal icon of American theater.
What a beautiful tribute to a great performer!!
💙💙
@@lorrainechandler7864
Beautifully expressed.
@@terryhammond1253 Thank you. It's heartfelt.
I saw this (Kiss Me Kate) on Broadway in 2000 +/- and at Stratford (Ontario) in 2010. This is a great treat...how did you unearth this gem? The BBC surely did this performance justice.
His charisma jumps off the screen! I'm soooo in love with Alfred Drake.
In 1985 I had the wonderful opportunity to see and hear Alfred Drake in KISMET in the London production! My husband and I bought the recording and played it in its various forms (disc, 45, casette tape, and CD) for many years. I still have a copy.
He was the most charismatic Broadway star I ever had the joy to see and hear! Unique and outstanding! It was a great joy to see him once again tonight. Thank you, You Tube.
🎹 Wonderful. Nothing compares with the musicals and artists from Broadways golden age. Thanks so much for posting.
It may have been many years ago but what a delight to be reminded of this wonderful artist whom l saw in Kismet at the Stoll theatre all those years agp
Alfred Drake - supreme in his musical element. Thumbs down is not an option. This man is incomparable: a legend.
when you listen to this remarkable voice - realize that there were no sound systems for the singers . There were full orchestras to sing over .. We were still in the realm of almost Grand Opera ..
I have just discovered this clip of a musical legend. Superb!
What a marvelous voice!
I am crying. I grew up listening to this man. ❤❤❤
Flawless. Superb vocalizing with stunning breath control, acting of the highest quality and so handsome to boot. Thanks so much for posting this gem!
The way he bows to the girl after the Oklahoma segment what a gentleman very talented!
They don't have many talent on broadway with his voice ,his depth of acting , his charisma, they do not make them . How very sad for Broadway and for audiences. Alfred Drake was magnificent in every way
Vocal genius.
I had the good fortune to see Alfred Drake and Doretta Morrow in " Kismet " at the Stoll Theatre in London in the 1950s.
+somyod2u My parents got to see this show and I have the record. I will treasure it always!
Bravo, bravissimo!! What a voice he had.
Best singing. Best vowels. Best acting, a triple accomplishment. During my teen years, an aunt and uncle came back from a trip with a program of the musical Kismet. Alfred Drake was on the cover, in his costume as Hajj the wealthy, reclining on pillows, grinning at his own reflection in a hand-held mirror. I remember thinking "Handsome, how does he sound when he sings? and what is kismet?" Thanks for posting.
Saw him in the Lincoln Center revival of KISMET. Patricia Morrison played Lalume and Henry CALVIN (the original Wazir, plus Sgt GARCIA on ZORRO!) was the Wazir. A marvelous production! Have seen it twice since, but no one comes anywhere near Alfred Drake! So marvelous!
Unfortunately, most people only know Henry Calvin from his role as Sgt. Garcia and his attempt at an Oliver Hardy impersonation in the Disney film, "Babes In Toyland".
Alfred Drake is simply AMAZING here. I never saw him live, but I've been so impressed with his talent on records. HOW could ten people have given him a "thumbs down"?
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I grew up listening to the original broadway musicals. My mother told me about Alfred Drake so often, I thought I had actually seen the shows! This is truly a treasure. I'm emailing it to my brother and friends. What a voice. What a man!
What a heart-wrenching rendition of "Wandering". Beautiful.
I am nuts about Alfred Drake and only knew him from his superb recordings of Broadway shows, but he really had a great bass/baritone voice.. and what an interpreter and handsome too. !
Alfred Drake has looks and a voice. Hedy Lamarr has beauty and a brain. This is the only comparison I can think of.
What a rare find!
Marvelous, thank you for posting this. Makes me proud to also be a Bronx boy (though only ages 6-17) and to have had singing and acting aspirations
Thanks for this beautiful clip!
I think a lot of people do not realize that Alfred Drake created many iconic roles on Broadway. He is an amazing but unknown and forgotten super star.
This is a real treat for me because previously I had only heard him on some scratchy old LPs I borrowed from the library. I think he's got the most expressive, smooth, rich and elegant bass voice in 20th century musical theater--speaking and singing.
jegraham440
A real virtuoso, and a world apart from any other! A joy to have this here, huh!
😊 Jan
Baritone, actually, but your point remains.
Great actor! Great singer!
Alfred Drake is always in my heart and mind when I sing these songs! My favorite! God rest his soul!
Thank you.
Handsome and serious chops....wow!!! He and Howard Keel...yuumy! Thanks for sharing this!
I grew up with Drake's Kismet. Greatest Broadway star--could have been opera great, also. "So in Love" with his voice.
Wonderful... really great.... thank you Ashton Joliet for posting, and thank you Nate for sharing!
Absolutely wonderful - a priceless gem!
Alfred the Great!
What a great find.
Would have liked to hear Alfred Drake sing “ Bring Him Home” from les mix. Thanks for posting.
What a treat,thank you.For me ,there will only ever be one Hajj (Alfred Drake) and one Eliza Doolittle (Julie Andrews).Perfection !
Try Wendy Hiller in “Pygmalion” ( the play from which “My Fair Lady” derives ) and Margot Kidder also….. both superb actresses
I DID THE LEAD IN "KISS ME KATE" IN SUMMER STOCK, IN NEW LONDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE..........GREAT EXPERIENCE...& A LOT OF FUN WITH GREAT CAST & CREW.........JACK R. ENGLISH..ACTOR / SINGER. ....WEST.HOLLYWOOD
a twelve cylinder ferrari of a performance - than you for sharing. your taste in music is exquisite.
Thank you so much for positing this wonderful selection. Alfred Drake was truly an amazing baritone with such a rich voice. One of my favorites. Broadway baritones today are pale in comparison.
I tootally agree, there are very few on Broadway, probably that great guy in PARADE, Brian Stokes Mitchell, he has amazing chops!
Wonderful!!!!! Thanks!!!!!
I was fortunate to see Drake in a revival of Kismet in Toronto in the mid-50s. Great voice, of course, but an excellent, and somewhat under-rated actor. His physical acting in "Gesitculate" was spectacular (he took an even longer pause before the final "fool" in the Olive Tree than here, which was even more effective). He did an excellent Claudius in Richard Burton's 1964 film of Hamlet. He was also reportedly quite a womanizer, once famously shot down by Kate Hepburn.
This is absolutely gorgeous. What an afternoon treat to have found here!! 😃
Kismet is probably my favorite musical. (Impossible, tho, to choose a favorite!) The lovely, lovely score, the incomparable Alfred Drake and Doretta Morrow (particularly, Alfred Drake's virtuosity), all of it! As often as I have listened to my original cast recording, certain words in the lyric were not clear. Through this video, there isn't a word left that I cannot decipher! KISMET's lyrics are so, so witty ("sharpen up the edges of your wit"!), clever,
touching and beautiful.
Whoever found and brought this here, thank you. It is a joy...😊
Jan
Kismet was on Broadway the year I was born. But it became my favorite musical after growing up listening to charismatic Alfred Drake as Haj the beggar, Beautiful Doretta Morrow as Marcena, the beggar's daughter & the wonderful Richard Kiley as the young Caliph, singing Night of my Nights. Truly beautiful lyrics set to Borodin's Polevetzian Dances. . I still love listening to it.
Ann Marie Johnson r
Goodness, what it must have been to see him live in "kismet".....suddenly Howard Keel feels like a very pale imitation...what an extraordinary voice, the phrasing, the delivery...I finally get it!
It was AMAZING! I saw him twice in it in a revival in Los Angeles in the 60's. I agree with Stephen Sondheim that it was probably the best musical theatre performance ever.
Geraldine Clarke - when did Sondheim say that? What a lovely tribute to an amazing performer from an amazing composer!
I will tell you what it was like to see Alfred Drake in Kismet! It was something I will remember until my dying day. He was wonderful! I saw him in NYC in the 1960s! Just spectacular.
They chose Howard Keel in Kismet and Kiss Me Kate and Gordon Mc Rae in Oklahoma because they were taller and more handsome.But Drake was a better artist
Howard Keel was no one's "pale imitation".
Marc Miller was I think right to question the year of this broadcast. Alfred Drake was in England again in June 1960 to appear in First Night, a BBC TV special to mark the opening of their new Television Centre studios on June 29th 1960. On October 30th 1960 he starred in his own BBC Sunday "Showtime" special, which is what this show would appear to be. It was no doubt taped in the new BBC studios to help the Corporation justify Drake's doubtless very substantial talent fee by getting an extra hour of performance out of him.
What an incredible gift to all of us! To be able to see Alfred Drake doing songs from both Oklahoma and Kismet is incredible. Luckily, we have KISS ME KATE as a telecast but video is 23 minutes of perfection. Young Broadway leading-men-to-be, watch this man. He is the master of charisma and restraint. He does no more than what is needed - allowing the song and the character to emerge in their full glory.
Well stated!
What a voice! Am envious..! :o)
So grateful to see this. I adore Alfred Drake. Where is the life...
Hi Noel!
Cute, cute lyrics!! The whole show filled with wonderful score and lyric, huh!
Jan ☺!!
+jan wintz
i.e "Where is the life"..
So sorry to have misspelled your name, Noelle. (I hate that.)
No worries. I forgive you. Any Alfred Drake fan is my friend ... etc. He was Broadway's greatest leading man back in the day.. Wonderful to see his performances after all these years.
What a beautiful legacy. The BEST.
James Taylor did "Wandering" the song from Sing out Sweet land,, Love it.
Only 15, I was fortunate to have seen Alfred Drake in the wonderful, but short-lived musical, Kean, in late 1961. I suspect it was far too literate for the typical Broadway audience of that era to survive, but fortunately, the cast album is easily available on CD or vinyl. (I have both.) Having seen many baritones since, I believe Alfred was one of the best Broadway baritones of all time.
It was alist of the best Broadway baritones and he is the number one followed byh John Raitt,Jerry Orbach,Hugh Jackman,Richard Kiley,Robert Goulet,George Hearn, Norm Lewis,Bryan Stokes Mitchell and others.For me Drake and Raitt were the leading Broadway baritones
I treasured my vinyl copy of Kean and finally wore it out. I was so happy when it was finally released on CD. I've often wondered why the show is never revived. The score is brilliant. (And the source material is from Sartre and Dumas so how had could the book be?)
Thank you. This made my day!
Oh, he was the best there was -- the phrasing, the low notes, the enunciation, the acting, the star quality. Thank you for finding this. But I strongly suspect it's not the 1950s. The orchestrations, the makeup on his silent leading lady, the set, the video quality, and his own looks seem to place it around "Kean" or "Zenda," in the 1960s. Can anyone track where this is from?
He would have been 100 this year. A bygone era. Opera, musical comedy. Today all the singers need mikes to be heard. Having a good agency is more important than having talent or a good voice.
What a superb voice. I wonder why no Hollywood studio signed him up for its male musical leads. Forget Howard Keel and Mario Lanza. Alfred Drake was the best.
Politics was the reason. He was on the "black list" during the late 40's/early 50's which didn't impact working on the stage but the major movie studios were another matter. He did a few smaller straight roles later in his career and did a lot of television work from the late 50's onwards, both musical & straight acting
He was excellent indeed. But forget Mario Lanza? You're having a laugh....Alfred Drake was a bass, Lanza a magnificent tenor.
.Lanza had the greatest natural voice of the 20th and another century.
Drake was a baritone and sadly Gordon Mac Rae and Howard Keel played his parts in the movies,Maybe he was old for Curly in1955 but he could have been in both Kiss me Kate and Kismet. movies ,In 1958 he and Partricia Morison reprised their roles in a tv performance and for me they were better than Grayson and Keel inthe MGM movie
@@dianavictoriaaljadeff5302 I heard the original Broadway cast before I saw the movies. You can't beat Broadway.
Patricia Morison said Alfred Drake wanted no part of Hollywood and remained dedicated to the musical stage.
Alfred Drake was disgustingly "named" in Red Channels (the publication of the blacklist). It wouldn't surprise me if he was in London just to get away from the stinking political environment in the USA, as many other blacklistees did. Incredible singer and classical actor... one of the truly great talents in Broadway history.
God broke the mold on Alfred Drake.
What can you say? They broke the mold.
Exactly what’s missing from the Bway stage today, a leading man who employs no tricks or frills, only strength and honest emotion. And as a gay man myself, may I say not a hint of iffiness. That’s necessary if you’re playing these roles.
💙💙
Take him for all in all, we shall not see his like again.
I only saw Alfred Drake once on stage -in the ill-advised stage version of GIGI...and he was incredible, singing those songs made famous by Chavalier andmaking his own. Critic Walter Kerr's review was headlined: "Thank HeavenFor Alfred Drake." How true!
+LieslJones59 Same with me, back in L.A. in 1973. Also with Daniel Massey, Agnes Moorehead, and Maria Karnilova.
HOW did I miss THAT? I was seeing lots of shows in the early 70s in LA. Wow. Whatta cast!!
Such a cast! But no Gigi. It was deadly dull. Except for Drake.
The best bass on Broadway!!!!
He would have been a great “Man of La Mancha”.
Wow!!!!!
What a beautiful voice and what charisma. Did he ever sing opera?
He auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera along with his brother. The brother, Arthur Kent, won and sang for a number of seasons at the MET. Drake sang opera and classical songs for this audition. This was all before "Oklahoma!" of course.
@@ashtonjoliet Correct, Ashton! How nice to see someone has the right facts. Alfred always told people that his older brother, Arthur, had the finer voice. They were very close, loved each other dearly. Arthur Kent was my father, and only did a few seasons at the Met before the Korean war caused his re-call into the Army.
PURE SWOON!!!
(I thought that Curley in "Oklahoma" was a tenor role, though.)
Drake originated the role of Curley in "Oklahoma". It is a baritone role and Gordon MacRae (a baritone) sang the role in the movie. Today "bari-tenors" tend to sing it, which to me doesn't sound as rich.
GrandFanale I second that.
@@GrandFanale For some reason, there's a trend for male singers today to sing in their upper registers. I think it might possibly be because of the more "tenor" sound found in pop music.
I think that were there a movie with the role of Alfred Drake, that
Kevin Spacey would be well cast for it.
(Might even manage his own singing.)
GizmoJunk Was was
Anyone else notice that he's completely pre-occupied with fixing his cuff links? Every time he finishes a song or start talking before a song, he's fidgeting around with those damn cuff links LOL!
Drake was an excelent musical baritone but he could have sang opera if he had wanted. He is in marveleus videos :Kiss Me kate with Patricia Morison, The yeamon of the guard with Celeste Holm and Barbara Cook and Naughty Marieta with Patricia Munsell.Happily we can see al this performances in video.He was born in 1914 and died in 1992. He and John Raitt(1917-2005) were the leading male Broadway stars.
Dianavictoria,
Barbara Cook / Alfred Drake...any better?? !!!
😊 Jan
dianavictoria Aljadeff
Patrice Munsell (not Patricia).
😊 Jan
Nio there isnt any better
I was born the day he died!
What a super Escamillo -- the Toreador in Carmen -- Alfred Drake would have been. With that voice and presence, why did he spurn opera? Have to face facts, not everyone thinks opera is the greatest thing since Vaseline.
Jimmy there are great singers who didnt want to sing opera and Drake was one of them and also Raitt ,Cook, ,Andrews and othersThey preferred the musicals.Drake was born inthe time when here were great baritones Warren, London, Merrill, Gobbi, etc and he knew that he would be better in the musicals. I agree he could have been excellent as Escamillo, Hamlet and other operartic roles.,
Jimmy Wood n
Drake and Raitt sang opera in the thirties .in 1940 he tried ro enter to the Metropolitan Opera but was reject .i dont understand why
it is and he was
This sort of music will never be popular, and why, you could understand every word he sang, not one 4 letter word was uttered, no give me some unwashed punk with bits of metal protruding from face and body , mouthing the same 3 words over and over, writing on the back of toilet paper while spaced out with drugs, yes my friends this music will live on for ever, well at least until tomorrow.
14:43
I'm sorry, but the actress they got for Kate looks like a sulky teenager rather than a furious virago, which she should be at this point in the show.