Ronald Wyche of Manhattan died May 23 of cardiac arrest. He was 67.
Mr. Wyche was born in Southampton to Fannie Wright and Lemuel A. Lamb Sr. He served as a sergeant for the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged after four years of service, with medals for good conduct and national defense service.
His career in the entertainment industry spans 40 years, starting in musical theater and traveling the world performing in various venues. He toured nationally and internationally with Vernel Bagneris’s musical “One Mo’ Time.” He also appeared on Broadway in “The Full Monty,” “Drowning Crow,” and “Don’t Get God Started.” He understudied Andre DeShields in “Primate,” was a member of “The Color Purple” workshop, and appeared in many and various regional theaters.
On television, Mr. Wyche made numerous appearances in “Law and Order” and did countless commercials.
As a singer, he performed regularly in nightclubs, most notably at The Empire Club (the second Playboy Club). For several years he worked with Herschel Dwellingham, Marty Stevens, Ken James Orchestra Productions, and other booking agencies, and appeared in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and other major cities across the United States.
As a playwright, his works include “Love Don’t Love Nobody,” “The Freezer,” “Satan Never Sleeps” (winner of 4 Audelco Awards including: Best Director of a Musical), “Do Wop Love” (winner of 3 Audelco Awards including: Best Director of a Musical), and “Blues Train.” “Do Wop Love,” which he first produced in 1993 at the club Sweetwaters in Manhattan, was particularly groundbreaking in that it heralded the musical revival genre. His musicals have been produced at theaters throughout the country, including Sacramento Light Opera, National Black Theatre, Billie Holiday Theatre, Black Spectrum Theatre and Theatre at Riverside Church.
Mr. Wyche posted two weekly blogs, “Sunday Morning Shoe Porn_Almost Blasphemous” and “A Country Boy Out and About,” both of which were followed by large and faithful audiences.
He had a passion for performance cars and fashion. He was renowned for being one of the best dressed men about town, as seen in Bill Cunningham’s April 24, 2016, New York Times fashion video. Because of his suave appearance and swagger, his partner, Melissa, affectionately referred to him as “Handsome Pants.”
Survivors said Mr. Wyche had a magnetic personality and possessed a vibrant love of life. Whether he was at Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue or Flamekeepers in Harlem, he had the extraordinary ability to travel easily in any circle, causing many to refer to him as “The Mayor.”
Mr. Wyche is survived by his partner of 31 years, Melissa Fontes (known professionally as Melissa Maxwell); sons, Tony Burnside and wife Iolani Lee-Burnside, Quincy Cooper and wife Amy Cooper; three granddaughters, Keeley, Keeana and Keedra; and great-granddaughter Nevaeh Rose Followell. He is also survived by siblings, Lemuel A. Lamb Jr., Cowanis Lamb-Akai, Tammie T. White and Venetta R. Lamb; an aunt, Lena Wyche-Clark; uncles Jessie Wyche and Melvin Miller Sr.; cousins Odell Ferebee and wife Lenore, Annie Scott, Curtis Wyche, Barry Wyche and Sharon Wyche-Byrd, Melvin Miller and wife Cynthia and their daughter Melissa Enriquez, Marvin Miller, Mikel Miller and Melanie Miller; and many friends and colleagues.
on Jun 2, 2016