Circus Life with Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson (Ringling Bros. "Greatest Show on Earth") - 020

Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson is the Voice of the Greatest
Show on Earth. He began performing at age 11 with the
world-famous Boys Choir of Harlem. For seven years, he was
intensely trained in all forms of music including classical,
jazz, hip hop and gospel. Johnathan experienced a string of
unforgettable, inspiring moments as a member of the Boys Choir,
which included being awarded the lead tenor role for the choir,
singing at the intermission for Luciano Pavarotti's Concert in
Central Park, performing in a live show on Broadway for two weeks
and winning second place in the Lena Horne Vocal Jazz
Scholarship.


Johnathan graduated from the University of Hartford's Hartt
School in May 1998 with a degree in voice performance, and
shortly after his graduation, Johnathan was invited to begin his
professional entertainment career with the 129th Edition of
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Johnathan couldn’t refuse
the offer and felt his prominent role in the show was an
unbelievable dream come true.


Johnathan toured with Ringling Bros. all around the United
States, and his charismatic charm and incredible voice caught the
eye of Barbara Walters, who within a year of his first tour named
him one of the ten most fascinating people in 1999. Johnathan’s
historical tenure with The Greatest Show On Earth is featured in
numerous publications, including: the New York Daily News, the
Huffington Post,  Black First: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and
Pioneering Historical Events by Jessie Carney Smith,
African-American First by Joan Potter, Live Life! Be Young,
Black, and Successful by Quincy Benton, and Beat of a Different
Drum: The Untold Stories of African-Americans Forging Their Own
Paths in Work and Life by Dax-Devlon Ross.


Notes from the Show:


He was a nominal fan of the Greatest Show on Earth (Ringling Bros
and Barnum and Bailey Circus) as a boy.


His favorite act was Globe of Death/Globe of Steel


He studied to be an opera singer. He planned to move to Europe to
launch his opera career.


He auditioned for the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Wisconsin, which
was directed by the director of Ringling Bros.


He loved being around the late great Gunther Gebel-Williams.


He credits the Boys Choir of Harlem for his commitment to
excellence.


He saw Placido Domingo in Tokyo when he was with the Choir, and
at 13 years old, knew he had to become an opera singer.


He credits Dr. Walter J. Turnbull for so much of his success.
"You have to walk boys to manhood."


He went to Fiorello LaGuardia High School.


Tyranny always targets artists and intellectuals.


"Believe me, when you're 40 feet up in the air, about to turn a
triple somersault, you could care less if your catcher is black,
white, gay, straight, speaks English, whatever."


"The Mongolian father has the same concerns for his kids as I do
mine. The Chinese guy over there is just as romantic or he's
vying for that woman's attention like I would have when I was
single. We all have these same types of things. It's really
fascinating. I think the arts open the gateway to our common
humanity."


A check for the ego: the animals are the reason people come to
the circus.


The circus is a singer's nightmare.


His first year was vocally traumatic. Working in the circus is a
"learn-on-the-job thing."


Frank Sinatra was so much better after Ava Gardner.


Mortality is what distinguishes his colleagues from him.


The band is the hardest working band in show business.


"You can't phone it in in the circus. You have to be focused."


He puts Vaseline on his teeth and a lozenge under his tongue to
have moisture in his mouth.


"I continue to be a student of my voice."


"I've never trained with an academic. Ever. I don't trust someone
who's just learned it from a book. They don't know anything.
People who've gone out and done it can teach it."


"It's a hard life to be a performer of any kind."


His wife is his boss.


"I consider myself the wealthiest man in show business."


Early in his career, it was all about self-promotion. But having
wife and kids has changed his perspective. "How do I give?"


"The noblest art is that of making others happy." - P.T. Barnum


If you're a performer, be grateful.


Twitter: @Bigtopvoice


Recommends the documentary "The Last Great Circus Flyer"


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