Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire Artistfacts

  • May 10, 1899 - June 22, 1987
  • Fred Astaire formed a child act with his sister Adele that became popular in the 1910s. Their first act was called "Juvenile Artists Presenting an Electric Musical Toe-Dancing Novelty." Adele eventually married, leaving Astaire to begin his solo career.
  • Fred Astaire had his first big-screen dance with Ginger Rogers on December 22, 1932, when Flying Down to Rio opened. The pair made nine films together, including Roberta (1935), in which Astaire also demonstrated his piano talents with a solo on "I Won't Dance."
  • He surprised his audiences by announcing his retirement during the production of his 1946 film Blue Skies. For the next couple of years, Astaire concentrated on his horse-racing interests and founded the Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

    His retirement proved temporary, and Astaire returned to Hollywood to replace an injured Gene Kelly in Easter Parade (1948). He starred in a succession of other musicals, including The Band Wagon (1953) and Funny Face (1957).
  • Astaire introduced several of the most celebrated songs from the Great American Songbook, including (with his sister Adele) George and Ira Gershwin's "Fascinating Rhythm" in Lady, Be Good (1924). Others include:

    Cole Porter's "Night And Day" in Gay Divorce (1932)
    Irving Berlin's "Cheek To Cheek", in Top Hat (1935)
    "Let's Face The Music And Dance" in Follow the Fleet (1936)
    Johnny Mercer's "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
  • Astaire took up skateboarding in his 70, and at the age of 78 broke his left wrist while riding his grandson's skateboard. He remained physically active well into his 80s.
  • There has never been a movie about Fred Astaire, and there never will be. Astaire's will included a clause requesting that no such portrayal ever take place. (Source: The Encyclopedia of Trivia).

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.