Monte Kay: The Man Behind the Music and the Marriage
Monte Kay was a prominent figure in the New York jazz scene in the late 1940s and 1950s, producing several young musicians and acting as the musical director of several nightclubs.
He was also the first husband of actress and singer Diahann Carroll, with whom he had a daughter.
Here are some facts about Monte Kay and his life.
Ethnicity
Monte Kay was born Fremont Monte Kaplan on September 18, 1924, in New York City.
His parents were Rachel (Shapiro) and Elias Kaplan, Jewish immigrants from Kyiv.
However, according to some accounts, during those years some thought Kay was a Caucasian due to his fair skin.
Kay always referred to himself as African American although he could pass as Caucasian2
Age
Monte Kay died of heart failure in Los Angeles on May 25, 1988, at the age of 631.
He had a long career as a music producer, club manager, and television producer.
He co-founded the legendary jazz club Birdland, produced several jazz artists such as Stan Getz and Sonny Rollins, and was the executive producer of The Flip Wilson Show.
Marriage to Diahann Carroll
Monte Kay met Diahann Carroll in 1954 when he was the casting director of the musical House of Flowers.
They fell in love and got married in 1956, despite the opposition of Carroll’s family and friends who disapproved of their interracial union.
They had a daughter, Suzanne Kay, who became a journalist and screenwriter.
However, their marriage did not last long. In 1959, Carroll began a nine-year affair with actor Sidney Poitier, who was also married at the time Kay and Carroll divorced in 1963.
Carroll later married three more times:
- Fred Glusman in 1973 (divorced after two months)
- Robert DeLeon in 1975 (died in a car accident in 1977)
- Vic Damone in 1987 (divorced in 1996)
Conclusion
Monte Kay was an influential figure in the jazz world and the entertainment industry.
He discovered and nurtured many talents, created iconic venues and shows, and left behind a legacy of music and comedy.
He was also the first love of Diahann Carroll, one of the most successful black actresses of her time.
They had a daughter who followed in their footsteps in journalism and filmmaking.
Monte Kay was a man who made history with his music and his marriage.
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