Benjamin Augustus Middleton, known as Ben Vereen, was born on October 10, 1946, in Laurinburg, North Carolina. He is an American singer, actor, and dancer who began his career by studying under renowned choreographers Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins at the High School of Performing Arts. Vereen's breakthrough came with his role as Judas Iscariot in the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar (1972), for which he received a Tony Award nomination. He won the 1973 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Pippin. Vereen released several albums, including Off-Stage (1975) and "Stop Your Half-Steppin' Ma Ma" (1975). His television career includes notable roles such as 'Chicken' George Moore in the miniseries Roots (1977), for which he received an Emmy nomination. Vereen also appeared on The Muppet Show and performed at Ronald Reagan's first inauguration in 1981. He also released Steppin' Out Live in 2010 through Ghostlight Records.
