Talented genes: the DNA of success

Ebony, August, 1995 by Lisa C. Jones

TO the public, they are star performers, high-powered politicians, creative screenwriters and sharp-shooting athletes enjoying their slice of fame. But to each other in the privacy of home, many prominent entertainers, sports figures and legislators are simply mom, dad, sis, brother . . . you know, a part of the family.

As if it weren't enough to boast of one talented person in the bunch, the celebrity siblings, parents and progeny featured here prove that just as looks and often temperaments are genetically passed down from generation to generation, in some cases, so is giftedness.

Blessed with their own share of great genes, enormous talent and unstoppable ambition, notables like the Jacksons, the Wayanses, the Joyners, the Marsalises and the Nevilles show daily that not all kin live in the shadows of their famous family members, for they are blazing illustrious career trails of their own and finding matching success along the way.

Legislators in the house. U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) learned about political finesse from her father, Billy McKinney, a noted civil rights activist who has served in the Georgia Legislature for more than 20 years. Daughter McKinney was a two-term Georgia assemblywoman herself before she was elected to Congress in 1992. The first woman to represent the state in Congress, Rep. McKinney is also the only female in the Georgia delegation.

Sassy songbirds Cissy and Whitney Houston are both forces to be reckoned with in the music business. Five-time Grammy Award-,winner Whitney Houston, who sang her first solo in a small Baptist church, is also an accomplished actress who recently completed work on her second feature film, Waiting To Exhale. Mother Cissy Houston has stirred emotions and lightened spirits for decades with her earthy vocals. In the `60s and `70s, the elder Houston sang backup for Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Bette Midler. Elvis Presley and another talented relative, her niece Dionne Warwick.

Music and the Levert clan are inextricably linked. Dad Eddie Levert, known for his sensual, baritoned growl, is a member of the legendary O'Jay. In the 1980s, his sons, Gerald and Sean, proved to be chips off the old music block when they, along with family friend, Mare Gordon, formed the R&B group LeVert. Since then, both sons have branched out into solo careers. A recognizable pop and R&B star in his own right, Gerald Levert not only garnered a Billboard Top 20 spot with his second solo album Groove On, he also wrote and produced Barry White's mega-hit, "Practice What You Preach." The youngest Levert, Sean, has experienced a degree of success, too, with his debut solo album The Other Side, which his brother helped to produce.

Sharp-shooting siblings Cheryl and Reggie Miller grew up interested in doing the same thing--dominating on the basketball court. They both achieved their goal. Cheryl, who was the all-time leading scorer and rebounder when she played on the women's basketball team at the University of Southern California, is now the school's head coach for women's basketball. To top off an already impressive resume, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist was recently inducted into the 1995 Basketball Hall Of Fame. Kid brother Reggie of the Indiana Pacers grabs headlines on his own. The sharp-shooting guard, who signed a $16 million, five-year extended contract, has been cited on numerous occasions for his incredible intensity and long-range, three-point shots.

All in the family. Debbie Allen and sister Phylicia Rashad have paved distinctly, yet equally successful, paths in entertainment. Allen, who choreographs the Academy Awards program, has showcased her acting, directing, producing and choreographing skills on, Broadway, television and film, including her work, on the widely successful A Different World series and the early `80s show Fame. Rashad is best known for her astute, motherly role as Clair Huxtable on the long-running family series, The Cosby Show. But the talented actress and singer has also left her indelible mark as a serious Broadway performer, nightclub entertainer and soap opera star.

Twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes are just two of the many Black filmmakers who have established themselves on the Hollywood circuit in recent years. The look-alike siblings grossed $30 million with their, debut inner-city drama Menace II Society. Their second flick Dead Presidents, which chronicles the experiences of Blacks in the Vietnam War, will be released this fall. Other sibling moviemakers include Warrington and Reginald Hudlin, known) best for their box-office hits House Party, Boomerang and Bebe's: Kids.

First family of gospel, the Detroit-based Winans have given new meaning to the tag "family business." The entire family, including mother Delores and father David, have gotten a taste of sweet and harmonious success. With more than 10 Grammys among them, the Winans have taken their uniquely contemporary tinged gospel sound to all parts of the earth. The best known of this musically gifted crowd are the brother-sister duo BeBe (Benjamin) and CeCe (Priscilla) Winans, whose inspirational vocals have won them fans on both the gospel and pop charts.