Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt III (born December 20, 1949)[1] is a retired public relations executive. Vanderbilt was heavily involved with bringing the Grammys back to New York and the tall ships to New York for the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' journey to the Americas.[2][3] He is the father of James Platten Vanderbilt, son of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr., and the grandson of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. His great-grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, had been one of America's most revered businessmen; his great-great-grandfather, William Henry Vanderbilt had been the richest man in the world.
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt III | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 20, 1949 |
| Occupation | Public Relations Executive |
| Spouse(s) |
Alison Campbell Platten
(m. 1971; div. 2016) |
| Children | James Platten Vanderbilt Travis Murray Vanderbilt |
| Parent(s) | Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. Jeanne Murray Vanderbilt |
| Family | See Vanderbilt |
Early years
editVanderbilt graduated from the Buckley School in New York in 1964. His family traveled extensively and some of his high school years were spent in other countries before graduating from Loyola School in New York.
Vanderbilt started a Rock 'n Roll band called The Four Fifths in 1965. The band was signed to Columbia Records and released "If You Still Want Me" and "Have You Ever Loved A Girl", published by Scope Music Inc. (BMI) in November 1966, record JZSP 116493 and 116494.[4][5][6][7]
Career
editVanderbilt did not follow his father into the family horse-racing business,[8] instead forming a career in public relations. Vanderbilt started working as an associate at Carl Byoir & Associations in New York City in 1981, and worked at other firms including Hill and Knowlton, Inc. before starting his own agency, The Vanderbilt Agency, New York City, in 1990 where he was president and chief executive officer before retiring in 2017.
Vanderbilt Cemetery Association
editIn 2010, Vanderbilt created the Vanderbilt Cemetery Association to preserve the Vanderbilt family mausoleum and cemetery at the Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp on Staten Island, New York.
Personal life
editVanderbilt became engaged to Alison Platten in June 1971 [9] and they married on August 18, 1971.[10] They had two children, James Platten Vanderbilt and Travis Murray Vanderbilt, before divorcing in 2016.
Vanderbilt has organized Vanderbilt family reunions [2] and lectures about the Vanderbilts.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Son Born To Vanderbilts". The Baltimore Sun. December 21, 1949. p. 20.
- ^ a b Dominic Dunne (January 1995). "The Vanderbilt Century". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "A Quiet Majesty Sails the Hudson With Tall Ships". NY Times. July 1992. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "The Four Fifths". Youtube. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "FOUR FIFTHS IF YOU STILL WANT ME". Youtube. July 23, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "Four Fifths - Have You Ever Loved A Girl". Youtube. January 16, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "The Wanderer's Lament - The Four Fifths". Youtube. June 30, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ Teresa Genaro (June 29, 2015). "FOR ALFRED VANDERBILT III, LEGACIES HONORED". The Racing Biz. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ "Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. To Wed Alison Platten". New York Times. June 1971. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. Marries Alison Platten". New York Times. August 1971. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "Destination: Rhode Island : House Party : It's 100 candles for the Breakers, one of Newport's most famous mansions". Los Angeles Times. May 1995. Retrieved April 12, 2022.