Douglas Forde Simms

Douglas Forde Simms combines the written word with an artist�s view of the world to create promotional biographies and marketing materials for some of the entertainment industry�s brightest stars.
His clients include Broadway Director and Tony Award winning dancer/choreographer, Wayne Cilento (�Tommy,� �Dream�); Rock Legend and Steppenwolf lead singer, John Kay (�Born To Be Wild,� �Magic Carpet Ride�); Donnie Wahlberg, film star and former New Kids on the Block lead singer (�Ransom,� �Sixth Sense�); and Chuck Negron, signature voice of �70s super group, Three Dog Night (�One,� �Joy To The World�).
Mr. Simms began a professional acting career at the age of seven, winning a permanent role on the NBC-TV series, �The Children�s Hour.� Numerous stage, TV, and film performances followed, working with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Lewis, Mickey Rooney, The Pointer Sisters, Redd Fox, David Soul, Dick Shawn, and Michael Gross.
In 1963, he performed at the legendary Apollo Theater with his recording group the Startones, appearing with Ruby and the Romantics (�Our Day Will Come�). After touring with the Bicentennial national production, �1776,� he collaborated with actor/director, Marcello Rollando (�As the World Turns,� �And Justice for All�) to write and produce �Living History Theater� for the U.S. Park Service Historic Sites. In 1976, Mr. Simms began guiding the careers of entertainers as personal manager to local, national, and international artists.
From 1988-1990, his popular international celebrity interview series, �A Chat with an Old Friend,� was published in Blue Suede Views. In 1991, he co-wrote the theatrical stage production �Tear It Down,� starring Robin McNamara (�Hair,� �Lay A Little Lovin� on Me�).
After the September 11th assault on America, Mr. Simms formed A Wise American Productions with Christian recording artist, Rick Wise. The label�s first release, a CD single of an original patriotic collection entitled �A Wise American (medley)� garnered critical acclaim, including letters of congratulations from Presidents George H.W.Bush and Gerald Ford.
Mr. Simms toured throughout the United States in 2002-2003 as the Road and Stage Manager for the Christian off-Broadway Musical, �The Rock & the Rabbi.� Additionally, he served as a consultant for various language arts publishers.
Today, Mr. Simms travels the country speaking to university students on the �Writing Process: a craft from thought to finish,� �Multi-Sensory Reading Instruction,� and �Parental Involvement in Early Reading.� He continues writing for the entertainment industry, including the narrative for the 2005 DVD release of �The Chuck Negron Story,� and has completed writing two novels, �The Legend of the 13th Snowman� and �The Life and Times of Tucker Pitts:1957-1973.�
Married, and the father of three sons, Mr. Simms is a former Marine Corps Sergeant and a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. Currently, he serves with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.