François Clemmons
Keynote Speaker: Grammy Award-Winning Singer, Actor & Author; Known for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"; Founder of Harlem Spiritual Ensemble
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François Clemmons Biography
Dr. François Scarborough Clemmons is an American singer, actor, author, and educator recognized as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children's program, the PBS series "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Clemmons was discovered by Fred Rogers while singing in a Pittsburgh-area church and was invited to join the cast as Officer Clemmons. Initially hesitant to portray a police officer due to his experiences witnessing violence against civil rights demonstrators, Clemmons ultimately accepted the role, aiming to create a positive impact. He played Officer Clemmons on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for 25 years, participating in significant moments such as the wading pool scene, which addressed racial equality.
Before his television work, Clemmons established a foundation in classical music. He earned a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College and a Master of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. Clemmons won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in Pittsburgh and performed for seven seasons at Lincoln Center with the Metropolitan Opera Studio. He received a Grammy Award for a recording of "Porgy and Bess" and performed the role of Sportin' Life in "Porgy and Bess" over 200 times. Clemmons sang professionally for seven seasons, performing more than 70 roles with companies including New York City Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, Opera Ebony, Opera South, Toledo Opera, and Washington Civic Opera.
Clemmons founded and directed the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and served as the Alexander Twilight Artist in Residence and director of the Martin Luther King Spiritual Choir at Middlebury College in Vermont. He contributed to the college community and promoted understanding of music, particularly the American Negro Spiritual. Middlebury College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Arts degree. In recognition of his work with the American Negro Spiritual and his teaching, Clemmons received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Carnegie Mellon University.
Clemmons has remained active in the public sphere beyond his television career. He is featured in the documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" by director Morgan Neville, which explores the life and legacy of Fred Rogers. As founder and director of the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, Clemmons performs internationally, working to preserve and commission new and traditional arrangements of American Negro Spirituals. His memoir, "Officer Clemmons: A Memoir," recounts his life, including his studies at Oberlin College and his relationship with Fred Rogers. Clemmons is known for his contributions as an artist, activist, and storyteller, with a career defined by artistic achievement and a commitment to human dignity.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on François Clemmons and other top speakers and celebrities.
François Clemmons Speaking Topics
Known to the world as the friendly policeman on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Dr. François Clemmons made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s television program. As a Grammy award-winning opera singer, conductor, educator and author, Clemmons has touched the hearts of thousands. In his interactive keynotes, both virtual and in-person, he shares his unexpected artistic and personal journey, often gracing audiences with song. Tailoring each event per audience, he also explores the intersection of race, identity and culture in arts and music, including no -holds barred Q&A sessions. He fosters a dialogue of courage and caring, illustrating the power of friendship to build bridges.
François Clemmons Videos
How do I book François Clemmons to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like François Clemmons for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for François Clemmons, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for François Clemmons or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book François Clemmons for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for François Clemmons, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book François Clemmons are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire François Clemmons, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does François Clemmons speak about?
François Clemmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Music, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Actor, Host & Emcee, Television & Film, Author, Non-Fiction Authors and Storytelling.
Where does François Clemmons travel from?
François Clemmons generally travels from Middlebury, VT, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for François Clemmons?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like François Clemmons for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book François Clemmons for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host François Clemmons or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
François Clemmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Music, Black Heritage and Black History Month. The estimated speaking fee range to book François Clemmons for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. François Clemmons generally travels from Middlebury, VT, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ben Vereen, LL Cool J and F. Gary Gray. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling François Clemmons for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
François Clemmons Speaking Topics
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“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" - A Conversation on Race, Culture & the Arts with Dr. Francois Clemmons
Known to the world as the friendly policeman on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Dr. François Clemmons made history as the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s television program. As a Grammy award-winning opera singer, conductor, educator and author, Clemmons has touched the hearts of thousands. In his interactive keynotes, both virtual and in-person, he shares his unexpected artistic and personal journey, often gracing audiences with song. Tailoring each event per audience, he also explores the intersection of race, identity and culture in arts and music, including no -holds barred Q&A sessions. He fosters a dialogue of courage and caring, illustrating the power of friendship to build bridges.
VIDEO
François Clemmons Videos
FAQS
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How do I book François Clemmons to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like François Clemmons for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for François Clemmons, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for François Clemmons or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book François Clemmons for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for François Clemmons, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book François Clemmons are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire François Clemmons, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does François Clemmons speak about?
François Clemmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Music, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Actor, Host & Emcee, Television & Film, Author, Non-Fiction Authors and Storytelling. -
Where does François Clemmons travel from?
François Clemmons generally travels from Middlebury, VT, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for François Clemmons?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like François Clemmons for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book François Clemmons for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host François Clemmons or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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