User:Bookkeeperoftheoccult/Celebrity nicknames and titles

Celebrity nicknames and titles Steve Holsey. Michigan Chronicle. Detroit, Mich.: Sep 24-Sep 30, 2008. Vol. 72, Iss. 2; pg. D1, 2 pgs

... from the silly to the sublime

Behind most nicknames there is a story. The reasons for them can be logical, based on a reality aspect of the person, or they can be whimsical. That is part of the beauty of nicknames - they can range from the silly to the sublime, and everything in between.

There is certainly no shortage of nicknames in the world of entertainment. Titles either.

One of the more interesting nicknames is that of rapper/actor Mos Def (his real name is Dante Smith). He was in the habit of saying "most definitely!" So he decided to just shorten it to "Mos Def."

The legendary actress and singer Ethel Waters was so thin when she was young that she picked up the nickname "Sweet Mama Stringbean."

Probably no one has undergone as many name changes as Sean Combs. At various times he has been known as "Puff Daddy," "P. Diddy," "Puffy" and "Diddy." He has taken on acting assignments as "Sean Combs." His clothing line is called "Sean John."

You might have to be in the family or be a close friend to know why Elbernita Clark of the Clark Sisters gospel supergroup is better known as "Twinkie" Clark.

But we do know that Evelyn "Champagne" King's original nickname was "Bubbles," given to her by her mother. However, Mom and the singer's manager/producer were in agreement that "Bubbles" sounded kind of silly.

THE LEGENDARY trumpet player and vocalist Louis Armstrong had two nicknames he was affectionately known by, "Satchmo" and "Pops."

What do Winfred Lovett of the Manhattans and Melvin Franklin from the Temptations have in common? The nickname "Blue."

In the 1970s, Isaac Hayes scored big with an album titled "Black Moses," and right away people began calling him that. But, as far as we know, it wasn't his intention to "lead his people" anywhere.

Fortunately, rapper/songwriter/producer Missy Elliott dropped the "Misdemeanor" nickname. Most likely it was a matter of maturing.

The legendary (and outrageous) Little Richard regularly refers to himself as "the Architect of Rock 'n' Roll" - and anyone who has studied the evolution of rock 'n' roll knows that the boast is not as far-fetched as it might at first seem. His influence could never be overstated.

Jackie Wilson was so explosive on stage that he was tagged "Mr. Excitement" Meanwhile, Jerry Butler is so smooth and cool that they call him "the Ice Man."

SPORTS IS a field where there are plenty of nicknames. Shaquille O'Neal is known as "Shaq." Everyone knows Earvin Johnson as "Magic." Tommy Hearns was so fierce in the ring that they called him "the Motor City Cobra." Julius Erring was loved as "Dr. J." Ditto for Michael Jordan as "Air Jordan" and Dwayne Johnson as "the Rock." They called Dennis Rodman "the Worm." Remember Mark "the Bird" Fidrych? Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain is a legend. And before his life took a drastic and tragic turn for the worst, O.J. Simpson was loved as "the Juice."

But getting back the music and acting...

For a while people were calling season two "American Idol" winner Reuben Studdard "the Velvet Teddy Bear." Gladys Knight thought of that.

The legendary Frank Sinatra was often referred to as "Ol' Blue Eyes" as well as "the Chairman of the Board."

Ron Isley appeared on record and in videos, in association with R. Kelly, as "Mr. Biggs," and thus a nickname was born.

Speaking of characters, George Clinton's "Dr. Funkenstein" resulted in him being identified as such.

Dinah Washington was "the Queen of the Blues," and often identified as "the Queen."

MEANWHILE, Nina Simone assumed the position of "the High Priestess of Soul."

James Brown was "the Godfather of Soul," "the Hardest Working Man in Show Business" and "Soul Brother No. 1."

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the key members of the Rolling Stones, were called "the Glimmer Twins," and Bruce Springsteen is known worldwide as "the Boss."

Eddie Anderson portrayed Jack Benny's sidekick "Rochester" for so many years on radio and TV that it became his nickname.

Singer/songwriter/producer Kenneth Edmonds became known as "Babyface" for the obvious reason, as did singer Richard "Dimples" Fields.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has been called "Ree-Ree," "Lady Soul" and "Sister Ree."

Ray Charles was, of course, "the Genius," and Michael Jackson adopted the "King of Pop" title.

Country music legend Johnny Cash chose to wear one color of clothing on all occasions. Hence, he became "the Man in Black."

Bootsy Collins is so familiar as "Bootsy" until people often forget that his name is William.

In jazz, Charlie Parker was renown as "Bird," another legend, Billie Holiday, was loved as "Lady Day," and Thomas Waller gained fame as "Fats" Waller.

One of the members of the Ohio Players is Leroy "Sugarfoot" Donner.

Johnny "Guitar" Watson became that for an obvious reason, but it is not clear why they called Wilson Pickett "the Wicked Pickett."

Tom Cruise is sometimes playfully identified as "TomKat."

And, of course, sometimes initials come into play, as in "the Q" for Quincy Jones, "B" for Beyoncé Knowles and "J.Lo" for Jennifer Lopez.