him a screen test and "no way out" was the name of the film and it starred richard widmark and sidney poitier. and i looked that the with further envy. (laughter) and sidney, as we just said, as i pointed out to him that his career was... i didn't say based upon the fact that he took my place but i said wherever he's boasting about his success i said "always remember the reason you're successful is based on garbage." (laughter and applause) 6-. >> rose: so then you startedut as an actor, not a musician, a singer. how did the singing come about? >> we did a play at the new school "of mice and men." d they shaped the play in a very unique way and one of the characters that hay had written for the play was a bam ladeer and the character was supposed to be available for set changes and mood changes and he sang the songs of woody guthrie and the songs of led belly. and i played that character and i loved the opportunity and as the play went on through the night i did my turn singing a caella over the scenes helping to set mood and evoke humor. dissolve. i now some years later am working. i'm out o

sidney poitier was happy i won. >> must have. -- one of those people on screen who you just want to emulate. you want to be that good. you know you want to be that good. the same for me with bette davis and judy holiday, you want to than good. oh, did i mention also that i'm doing a documentary? i'm sorry. >> fire away. >> it made me think about it. now do you know who moms maybelly was? >> i don't. >> she was an american comic, '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, black lady who talked like this. piers, you know you so hot. but you on the cusp too old for moms. that's how she sounded. and i'm doing a documentary about her and we're going to do a play that i did many, many years ago on stage about her work, you know? her comedy. she's extraordinary. and i think you would