Tennis Queen Learns New Lesson Here

Gibson Girl Sings Another Tune In Her Visit to Coach Kennedy

SEAWANHAKA, Wednesday, February 5, 1958

By ED POLANSKY

A lean 5 ft. 11 in. woman, possessing the attributes of an athlete, entered the elevator in Metcalfe Hall the other day, and brought a puzzled expression to the face of one LIUite who was standing next to her. The student, his eyes fixed upon her face, tried to recall where he had seen her before. He felt certain that she was not associated with LIU.

The elevator reached the eighth floor, the young lady got off and headed in a direction that seemed familiar to her. As the doors closed and the elevator continued its journey upward, the puzzled student suddenly hit upon the answer. Turning to the elevator operator he exclaimed, “Say George… that’s Althea Gibson, the tennis star! I recognize her from television!”

HE WAS RIGHT! Althea Gibson, Woman’s Amateur Tennis Champion, and America’s Woman Athlete of the Year, had come to LIU to keep an appointment with a man known to many of us. He is Mr. James Kennedy, instructor in the Speech-Theatre department. This appointment, one of many, was not of a social nature, nor was its purpose directed toward teaching Mr. Kennedy the fine art of championship tennis. Quite the contrary, it was Miss Gibson who was getting a lesson – a lesson in voice development.

It may seem rather unusual that a renowned tennis champion should be concerned with voice coaching. Althea, as those close to her know, is a remarkably unusual person. As a result, her voice lessons play an important role in the fulfillment of a life-long ambition.

Miss Gibson, who last September added the U.S. Singles title to her Wimbledon crown, wants very much to become a professional singer. The 29-year-old champion contemplates a career in show business simply because she has to make a living for herself. Her status as an amateur tennis player limits her earning capacity. Her income is based solely upon tournament prizes and guest appearances.

Althea’s manager and coach, Syd Lewellyn, predicts about four more years of top-notch tennis for her, and then probable retirement from the courts. When this time comes, she wishes to continue her role as a performer, dazzling her audience not as a tennis star, but rather, as a singer.

Miss Gibson has always sung at the Wimbledon Ball before the Queen of England, and has made several guest appearances in New York, notably at the Waldorf-Astoria, and Birdland. Show people agree that she has a good voice, and offers to sign on the dotted line are continually received. She has, however, declined to accept such offers due to her current obligation to amateur tennis.

Mr. Kennedy. as Miss Gibson’s voice teacher, is fully concerned with the development of her two-octave contralto voice. His coaching sessions with her are held as often as both their schedules will permit. The sessions are frequently at LIU, while at other times working at Mr. Kennedy’s studio in the CBS building, 1697 Broadway.

COMMENTING ABOUT the success of Althea Gibson, Mr. Kennedy points out that she is a wonderful illustration of “a woman’s two-sided feeling, and the natural desire to be a whole person. not just a part. She has succeeded and surmounted the many barriers in her life, because she possesses the drive and heart that is so necessary in giving one’s life true meaning.”

A great deal of Mr. Kennedy’s time is spent coaching entertainers, and working at the Voice and Speech Clinic in Manhattan. He considers the teacher a person who has never been given his just rewards, and must therefore turn to other things for fulfillment.

Mr. Kennedy, a graduate of New York University, holds a Masters Degree in Speech. He is currently preparing for his doctorate at NYU. His teaching career began in 1950 at Plain View A&M College, near Houston, Texas. He also taught at Hampton Institute, Virginia, and Morgan State College in Baltimore, Md. In 1954 he returned to his native New York accepting a position as Speech Pathologist at St. Vincent Hospital. He joined the faculty at LIU in 1955, and has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with everyone whom he has come to know.

Re-printed for research purposes. Copyright remains with the original holder.