Cliff Roquemore(1948-2002)

Writer, director, and producer Cliff Roquemore was born on September 28, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. After studying theatre at Wayne State University, Roquemore began his career writing and directing stage plays at such Motown venues as Concept East, Detroit Repertory Theatre, and the Vest Pocket Theatre. Cliff was involved in more than 200 regional or Off-Broadway stage productions which include "Selma," "Eubie," "Shaka Zulu," and "Invasion of Addis Ababa." Moreover, Roquemore wrote and/or directed three blaxploitation comedies starring Rudy Ray Moore. In addition, Cliff also wrote the award-winning musical "The Gospel Truth," created the musicals "Showgirls" and "Color Me Dorothy - The Dorothy Dandridge Story" in collaboration with Motown songwriter William Stevenson, directed a one-woman show for Eartha Kitt at Nick Stewart's Ebony Showcase Theater in Los Angeles, California in 1990, and, in 1999, wrote and produced the Off-Broadway comedy "Lotto: Experience the Dream," which ran for one and a half years at Union Square Theatre in New York City. He died of cancer at age 53 on February 5, 2002 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At the time of his death Roquemore was survived by his wife Jennifer, two sons, two daughters, his mother, five sisters, two brothers, and five grandchildren.