During the rush of a commute, it’s easy to ignore the people busking in the subway. Their voices blend into the general hubbub. Fortunately, sometimes one voice rises above, and that’s what happened for Alice Tan Ridley.
CALA professor Susan Hartman’s profile of Ridley, “After Years Underground, a Subway Singer Gets the Spotlight,” tells the story of her fascinating life. Ridley has sung in the Herald Square subway station for 30 years. This has been broken up a bit, however, by appearances on America’s Got Talent and a national music tour. Learning that her daughter is Academy Award-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe is barely surprising after reading about the rest of her life.
Despite an album that recently came out, Ridley still returns from time to time to the Herald Square subway station. Next time you’re in the area, it might be worth paying a little more attention to who’s singing.
Courses Susan Hartman is Teaching this Fall: