Johnathan Lee Iverson

Johnathan Lee Iverson (born 1976) became the first African-American ringmaster of a major U.S. circus in 1999 at the age of 22 when he won the position at Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Biography

He joined the Boys Choir of Harlem at age 11, which gave him intense formal training and world-wide exposure. He graduated from the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan in 1994, and won scholarships to the Hartt School of Music. He passed up an opportunity to attend graduate school when he was awarded the position of ringmaster.

To take advantage of Iverson's singing and dancing abilities -- unique among ringmasters up to that time -- the circus arranged for The Folclorica do Brasil dancers from Ipanema along with a choir of salsa singers to back him up.

He was named as one of Barbara Walters's "10 Most Fascinating People of 1999".

Iverson performed with the circus through the 2004 season. In June, 2006 he delivered the commencement address to graduates of his alma mater, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.