George "Gould" Strong?
Songwriter, Musician, Accompanist
You probably know George "Gould" Strong as the boogie woogie composer and accompanist to "Big" Edie Beale from the acclaimed Maysles Films documentary, "Grey Gardens," or perhaps from the Christine Ebersole/Mary Louise Wilson Broadway musical or Drew Barrymore/Jessica Lange HBO film of the same name.
Gould was an extreme talent; some say brilliant. With brilliance comes complexity. And complexity often leads to misunderstanding.
GEORGE GOULD STRONG'S OBITUARY FROM THE EAST HAMPTON STAR
George Gould Strong, 53, died in the Southampton Hospital on April 3, 1963 after an illness of three weeks.
Mr. Strong was born in East Hampton on January 21, 1910, the son of the late John Y. and Fanny Baker Strong. He attended Syracuse University for two years, and then went to Rutgers University. After leaving college he worked for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in New York.
Of recent years he had devoted his time to writing, and lived in New York City, coming to East Hampton for vacations. He never married.
Mr. Strong is survived by a sister, Ella, Mrs. John Gray; and by a brother, Edward M. B. Strong, curator of "Home, Sweet Home."
The funeral service was private, held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 5 at Mr. Strong's late residence on Pantigo Road, East Hampton. Burial was in Cedar Lawn Cemetery.
MORE FACTS:
- Gould may have lived in Paris, France for a period of time playing in cabarets.
- Gould had a radio show in New York City for a while.
- Gould's father ran a livery stable in East Hampton.
- Strong family businesses included a blacksmith shop and a real estate/insurance sales office.
- The family lived on a compound at the corner of Accabonac and Pantigo Roads, an area known as "the hook" in East Hampton Village.
- The enormous upstairs floor of their stable was used as a community dance floor and for high school basketball games.
- Gould had a relationship with "Big" Edith Beale and they shared a secret New York City apartment. Her husband, Phelan, was aware of the affair and was never fond of Gould. Gould and Edith were said to be soul mates; however, this may have only been on a platonic level. He is said to have dedicated over 80 songs to her.
- Gould had a male roommate in New York City for much of his adult life.
- Unlike his fictional demise in "Grey Gardens: The Musical," Gould did not commit suicide. Bob Stillman portrayed Gould in the Broadway musical.
- Actor Malcolm Gets plays Gould in the HBO television movie "Grey Gardens". Gets wears a diamond ring in the film that was once owned by Gould. It was a gift from Edith Beale.
- Gould died, more or less, prematurely of a bleeding ulcer. He was a practicing Christian Scientist (a religion that relies on the healing powers of prayer, not medicine), and refused the blood transfusion that would have probably saved his life.
It is perhaps a shame that so very little is known about George "Gould" Strong. There has to be much more to this talented man than the sparse information that has been revealed. If you can help put together an accurate life story of Gould, I would love to hear from you.
Do you have additional information? Please contact: GOULDSTRONG@GMAIL.COM.
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