| Cliff
Roles
Actor
Radio host
Columnist
Translator/Interpreter
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I
completed my schooling in Croydon, England, studied French,
German and Russian in Birmingham, then moved to Cologne, Germany
in the mid-Seventies to work first in the building materials
trade and then as a sales rep for 3M Do-It-Yourself products.
In 1984
I talked my way into a German music-publishing company and
became a radio promoter, which served as a stepping-stone
for the next 16 years of promoting over 130 of the world's
most famous rock and pop stars of the 80's and 90's.
Elton
John, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Robert Plant, Lionel
Richie, Donna Summer, Def Leppard, Tears For Fears, Dire Straits
and Kiss were just a few of the artists I had the privilege
of working with as, among other things, Head of Promotion
and International Marketing Manager of Mercury Records, Germany.
One of my most memorable recollections is standing on the
Berlin Wall in 1989 as it was being torn down, then accompanying
Pink Floyd's Roger Waters as he put on his legendary rock
opus "The Wall" in July 1990 on Berlin's Potsdamer
Platz.
Around
the turn of the millennium I bade the "biz" farewell
and became a professional German/English translator, a profession
that allowed me to work anywhere in the world. I had always
loved visiting the States, and maintained an on-off love affair
with Florida for the next 2 years before eventually arriving
in Sarasota in 2001 on my birthday, February 17, while touring
Florida on my Harley. I knew the second I saw St. Armand's
Circle that I wanted to settle on the Sun Coast. And when
I met my wife Maria shortly afterwards, the decision to move
out of my Hamburg apartment was an easy one.
In 2003
I discovered my love of acting, and have since enjoyed roles
in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Bells are Ringing, How
to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Zorba, WillmS,
Oliver, The Sound of Music, Murder at Cafe Noir, Got A Minute?
2006 + 2007, Sarasota Actors Workshop, Always A Part Of Me,
Laughter on the 23rd Floor and Run For Your Wife at the Players
of Sarasota, Venice Little Theatre, Manatee Players, Golden
Apple Dinner Theatre and the Backlot.
A further
highlight was in February 2006, when I was asked to be Ringmaster
of Circus Sarasota for its 2006 season. And I was pleased
and proud to be the Ringmaster for its 2007 10th anniversary
season, Celebrating A Decade of Excellence.
Never
one to be at a loss for words, I was at WIBQ talk-radio from
September 2004 to February 2007 as host of Talk of the Sun
Coast. After a recent ten-month stint at Sarasota's Community
Radio WSLR, I now broadcast on 1220 AM WSRQ, Monday through
Friday from 4 - 5 pm. And I write a monthly column in Scene
Magazine.
I
am proud to be a Board member of the Players of Sarasota,
and I am the recipient of the Sarasota County Arts Council
2007 Arts Leadership Award for Media.
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