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'''Jay Gorney''' (1894 - [[June 14]], 1990) was an [[United States|American]] theater and film song writer. He was born Abraham Jacob Gornetzsky in [[Bialystock]], [[Russia]] (now part of [[Poland]]) on [[December 12]], [[1894]]. In [[1906]], he witnessed the Bialystock [[pogrom]] which forced his family into hiding for nearly two weeks, after which they fled to the United States. His family settled in [[Detroit, Michigan]] where his father became an engineer at the newly formed [[Ford Motor Company]]. His mother bought a piano for her children. After two years of lessons, at age 13, Gorney was offered a job as a pianist at a local [[Nickelodeon movie theater|nickelodeon]].
This is a list of famous people and celebrities that were either born in or have lived in the [[Hampton Roads]] area of [[Virginia]].
He worked his way through the [[University of Michigan]] and later law school, as a pianist. His studies were interrupted by [[World War I]], during which he enlisted in the [[US Navy|Navy]]. After graduating, he practice law only briefly, but turned instead to his love of music, relocating with his wife to [[New York City]], where he began his song writing career on [[Tin Pan Alley]]. He contributed numerous songs to musicals by the [[Shubert brothers]]. Later, [[Ira Gershwin]] introduced him to lyricist [[Yip Harburg]], who became a frequent collaborator. The pair's most famous song, "[[Brother Can You Spare A Dime]]" first appeared in the 1932 Shubert production of ''[[New Americana]].''
==Chesapeake==
*[[Dré Bly]] – professional [[American football|football]] player with the [[Detroit Lions]].
*[[Stewart Copeland]] – drummer for rock band [[The Police]] and jazz ensemble [[Animal Logic]].
*[[Michael Copon]] – star of [[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]] and winner of VH1's ''[[But Can They Sing?]]''
*[[Michael Cuddyer]] – professional [[baseball]] [[third baseman]] for the [[Minnesota Twins]].
*[[Kenny Easley]] – professional football player with the [[Seattle Seahawks]].
*[[DeAngelo Hall]] – professional [[American football|football]] [[cornerback]] for the [[Atlanta Falcons]]
*[[Alonzo Mourning]] – professional [[basketball]] player for the [[Miami Heat]].
*[[Darren Perry]] – football player with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].
*[[Ricky Rudd]] – professional [[NASCAR]] race car driver.
*[[B.J. Upton]] – professional [[baseball]] [[shortstop]] for the [[Tampa Bay Devil Rays]]; drafted #2 overall in [[2002]].
*[[Justin Upton]] – B.J.'s younger brother, a professional [[baseball]] player drafted #1 overall in [[2005]] by the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].
*[[David Wright (baseball player)|David Wright]] – professional [[baseball]] starting third basemen for the [[New York Mets]]
*[[Patrick Bond]] – Phenom [[wrestler]] starting 197lb wrestler [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] .
*[[Ed Beard]]– professional [[American football|football]] player for the [[San Francisco 49ers]].
*[[Ashton Lewis]], [[NASCAR]] driver
*[[Elton Sawyer]], [[NASCAR]] driver
*[[Jeff Falk]], [[NASCAR]] driver
Gorney's daughter [[Karen Lynn Gorney]] is an actress and dancer, was part of the original cast of [[All My Children]] and played opposite [[John Travolta]] in [[Saturday Night Fever]].
==Hampton/Yorktown==
*[[Ronald Curry]] – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[Oakland Raiders]].
*[[Steve Earle]] – popular country-rock [[musician]] and [[songwriter]].
*Shaun Gayle – professional [[American football|football]] player with the [[San Diego Chargers]].
*Chris Hanburger – popular [[Washington Redskins]] player in the 1970s.
*Mike Husted – former kicker for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], [[Oakland Raiders]], and [[Washington Redskins]].
*[[Allen Iverson]] – professional [[basketball]] player, [[point guard]] for the [[Philadelphia 76ers]].
*[[Dwight Stephenson]] – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[Miami Dolphins]] and member of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].
*[[Nikki Nova]] – [[actress]].
*[[Dan Lyons]] – [[Accomplished graphic designer, videographer and possibly future mayor]].
Gorney's 2005 biography, ''Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The Life of Composer Jay Gorney'', was written by his wife Sondra.
==Newport News==
*[[Pearl Bailey]] – Tony award winning [[actress]] and [[singer]].
* Larry Bethea – late professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[Dallas Cowboys]].
*[[Blessid Union of Souls]] – local [[rock and roll]] band that lived and played in Newport News.
*[[Aaron Brooks]] – professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] for the [[Oakland Raiders]].
*Joyce Bulifant – [[television]] [[actress]].
*[[Robert Cray]] – [[blues]] [[guitarist]].
==External links==
*[[Frankie Faison]] – film [[actor]].
* {{imdb|0331185|Jay Gorney}}
*[[Ella Fitzgerald]] – [[jazz]] [[singer]].
* [http://www.sondragorney.com/ SondraGorney.com] - Website of Jay Gorney's widow, Sondra, featuring information on her late husband
*[[The Five Keys]] – popular soul and doo-wop act in the 1950s; featuring Newport News locals Ripley Ingram, Bernie West, Dickie Threat and Rudy West.
* [http://digilib.nypl.org/dynaweb/ead/music/musgorne Jay Gorney's of scores] are housed in the [http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/mus/mus.html Music Division] of [http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/lpa.html The New York Public Library for the Peforming Arts]
*[[Johnny Gilbert]] – [[announcer]] for the hit television quiz show [[Jeopardy!]]
* [http://digilib.nypl.org/dynaweb/ead/rose/thegorne/ Jay Gorney's papers] are housed in the [http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/the/the.html Billy Rose Theatre Collection] of [http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/lpa.html The New York Public Library for the Peforming Arts]
*Gary Hudson – [[actor]].
*[[Henry Jordan]] – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[Green Bay Packers]] and member of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].
*Leroy Keyes – professional [[american football|football]] [[running back]] for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]].
*Michael McGuire – [[Tony award]]-winning [[actor]].
*[[Hazel R. O'Leary]] – former [[United States Secretary of Energy|Secretary of Energy]] under President [[Bill Clinton]] and currently President of [[Fisk University]].
*Austin Roberts – [[singer]] and [[songwriter]].
*Norm Snead – professional [[american football|football]] [[quarterback]] for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]].
*[[William Styron]] – [[author]] of ''[[The Confessions of Nat Turner (1967)|The Confessions of Nat Turner]]'' and ''[[Sophie's Choice (novel)|Sophie's Choice]]''.
*[[Al Toon]] – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[New York Jets]].
*[[Marcus Vick]] – former quarterback for [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University|Virginia Tech]].
*[[Michael Vick]] – professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] for the [[Atlanta Falcons]].
*[[Wolfman Jack]] – aka Robert Smith, [[radio]] personality.
*[[David Macklin]] – professional football player for the [[Arizona Cardinals]].
[[Category:1894 births|Gorney, Jay]]
==Norfolk==
[[Category:1990 deaths|Gorney, Jay]]
*[[Gary "U.S." Bonds]] – [[singer]] and [[songwriter]].
*[[Plaxico Burress]] – professional [[American football|football]] [[wide receiver]] for the [[New York Giants]].
*[[Clarence Clemons]] – [[saxophonist]] for [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s E Street Band and former player for the [[Norfolk Neptunes]] football team.
*Tom DiCillo – film [[writer]] and [[film director|director]].
*[[Lefty Driesell|Charles "Lefty" Driesell]], famed [[basketball]] [[coach]] at the [[University of Maryland, College Park]], [[James Madison University]], and [[Georgia State University]].
*[[Rob Estes]] – [[actor]].
*Gary Fleder – [[film director]].
*William Fuller – professional [[American football|football]] [[defensive end]] for the [[Chicago Bears]].
*[[Stephen Furst]] – [[television]] [[actor]].
*Joe Garland – [[songwriter]].
*Eddie Holman – [[musician]].
*[[Henry Howell]] – [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia]]
*General Johnson – [[R&B]] [[musician]]
*[[Naomi Long Madgett]], African American poet
*Timothy "[[Timbaland]]" Mosely – [[Hip hop music|Hip-Hop]] artist and [[Record producer|producer]], longtime associate of [[Missy Elliot]]
*[[Wayne Newton]] – a.k.a. "Mr. Las Vegas"; [[singer]] and [[songwriter]].
*[[Tim Reid]] – [[television]] [[actor]], [[film director|director]], and [[film executive]].
*[[Joseph Jenkins Roberts]] – First [[President of Liberia]].
*[[Larry Sabato]] – National Political Pundit and Professor at the [[University of Virginia]].
*Deborah Shelton – [[television]] [[actor]].
*[[John Wesley Shipp]] – [[television]] [[actor]].
*[[Bruce Smith]] – professional [[American football|football]] player for the [[Buffalo Bills]] and [[Washington Redskins]].
*[[Margaret Sullavan]] – [[actress]] and wife of [[Leland Hayward]].
*Joe Smith – professional [[basketball]] player for the [[Milwaukee Bucks]].
*[[Scott Travis]] – [[drummer]] for rock band [[Judas Priest]].
*[[Marc Vann]] – [[actor]]
*[[Gene Vincent]] – trailblazing rock-a-billy artist recorded the huge hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula."
*[[Ernie Watts]] – [[composer]], [[jazz]] [[saxophonist]], and long-time touring member of [[The Rolling Stones]].
*[[Joe Weatherly]], NASCAR driver
*[[Patrick Wilson (actor)]].
*[[Tucker Jankosky - TV news reporter]]
==Portsmouth==
*[[Virginia C. Andrews]] – aka V.C. Andrews, mystery and horror [[writer]].
*[[Ruth Brown]] – [[Grammy]]-award winning [[singer]] and [[entertainer]].
*[[LaTasha Colander]] – track and field sprint star, [[2000 Olympics|2000 Olympic]] Gold Medalist (4x400m)
*[[Missy Elliott]] – [[rapper]]
*[[Perry Ellis]] – fashion designer.
*Tommy Facenda – [[singer]] and [[songwriter]]
*[[Shadow Morton]] – aka George Morton, record [[Record producer|producer]] and [[songwriter]].
*Tommy Newsom – [[musician]] featured in [[Johnny Carson]]'s [[The Tonight Show]] Band with [[Doc Severinsen]].
*John "Toast" Oast – professional skateboarder and skateboard industry entrepreneur.
*[[Patton Oswalt]] – [[comedian]] and [[television]] [[actor]].
*[[William Russ]] – [[actor]]
*Bill Schneider – political commentator for [[CNN]].
*[[Wanda Sykes]] – [[actress]], [[comedian]], and comedy [[writer]].
*Swamp Dogg – aka Jerry Williams – [[singer]] and [[songwriter]].
*[[Nicole Wray]] – [[rapper]] and protege of [[Missy Elliott]].
Bismark Myrick Ambassador Lesotho Africa
*[[Montel Williams]] – [[talkshow host]]
==Suffolk==
*[[Charlie Byrd]] – [[jazz]] [[guitarist]].
*[[Joe Maphis]] – [[country music]] [[singer]] and [[songwriter]].
==Virginia Beach==
*Anthony Addabbo – daytime [[television]] [[actor]].
*[[BLACKstreet]] – [[R&B]] [[musician]].
*[[Rudy Boesch]] – third place finalist on ''[[Survivor: Pulau Tiga]]'' (first season).
*J. Evan Bonifant – [[actor]].
*[[Maria Boren]] – contestant on ''[[The Apprentice 2]]''.
*[[Curtis Bush]]-World Champion Kickboxer and Actor
*[[Keith Goganious]] – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]].
*[[Jonathan D. Gordon]]– [[Illustrator]] and [[Sports Artist]]
*Steve Holland – [[guitarist]] for 70s and 80s rock group [[Molly Hatchet]].
*David Hull – bassist for 90s rock groups Naked Reaction and The Boneshakers; co-star of 90s sitcom Boredom.
*Wes Lane – pro[[surfer]].
*[[Evan Marriott]] – reality television star on ''[[Joe Millionaire]]''.
*[[Scott McKenzie]] – [[singer]] and [[songwriter]].
*[[The Neptunes]] – ([[Pharrell|Pharrell (Williams)]] and [[Chad Hugo]]), [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] and [[pop music]] production duo superstars.
*[[Juice Newton]] – [[pop music|pop]] and [[country music|country]] singer.
*[[Brandon Noble]] – professional [[American football|football]] player for the [[San Francisco 49ers]], [[Dallas Cowboys]], and [[Washington Redskins]].
*[[J.R. Reid]] – former professional [[basketball]] player.
*[[Teddy Riley (new jack swing)|Teddy Riley]] – [[musician]] and [[songwriter]].
*[[Pat Robertson]] – founder of [[Regent University]] and ''[[The 700 Club]]'', produced by the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]].
*[[Bruce Smith]] – former professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[Buffalo Bills]].
*[[Kendra Todd]] – winner of ''[[The Apprentice 3]]''.
*[[The Clipse]] – [[rap music|rap]] group.
*[[Sean Murphy (racer)|Sean Murphy]] – [[NASCAR]] driver.
*[[Kyle Fuentes]] – Professional Paintballer
*[[ZJ Fritz-Manolio]] – Professional Paintballer
==Williamsburg==
*Jimmy Fortune – vocalist with the [[Statler Brothers]]
*[[Bruce Hornsby]] – [[singer]] and [[songwriter]].
*[[Linda Lavin]] – [[actress]].
*[[Seven Mary Three]] – [[alternative rock]] [[band (music)|band]].
*[[Shawn Springs]] – [[american football|football]] player for the [[Washington Redskins]].
*[[Lawrence Taylor]] – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[New York Giants]] and member of the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].
*[[Tony Macrini]] – radio personality.
==York County==
*Terry Kirby – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[Miami Dolphins]] and [[Oakland Raiders]].
*Chris Slade – professional [[american football|football]] player for the [[New England Patriots]].
*Bruce Cunningham-- Baltimore sportscaster
*Nancy Thomas-- Nationally-Known Folk Artist
[[Category:People from Virginia]]
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