The Inspiring Friendship Of Tony Lip And Don Shirley: A Journey Through The American South

In 1962, casually racist Italian-American bouncer Tony "Lip" Vallelonga and Don Shirley, a gifted Jamaican-American musician, had very little in common — yet a road trip through the South led to these two becoming friends. The movie Green Book, co-written by Lip's son, Nick Vallelonga, tells the story of this life-changing journey. It draws on recordings of Lip, as well as conversations Nick had with his father and Shirley. However, the filmmakers did not consult with members of Shirley's family; his brother, Maurice, stated in a radio interview that he wouldn't see the film as he feels it's "full of lies." With this controversy and the fact that many movies make narrative choices that can leave facts behind, it may be hard to know what to believe about their relationship. To better understand it, here are some insights into the true story behind this friendship.

Shirley Needed Lip's Security While Performing in Jim Crow South

In 1962, Shirley and Lip really did travel together so that Shirley could perform south of the Mason-Dixon line. At that time, Lip's presence was a necessity. Six years earlier, Nat King Cole had been brutally assaulted on stage in Alabama. An experienced bouncer like Lip offered crucial security to a Black man in the Jim Crow South, where racial tensions and violence were rampant.

Additionally, the Negro Motorist Green Book, created by postal employee Victor Hugo Green, was another essential resource for Black travelers at the time. However, both Lip and Shirley would have required its guidance long before reaching the southern stops on Shirley's tour. Jim Crow laws were prevalent not only in the South but also in the North and Midwest, with numerous "sundown" towns that forbade Black people from staying overnight.

The film compresses the timeline of how long Shirley and Lip were on the road together. Instead of traveling for just two months, the different legs of their trip added up to more than a year, allowing their friendship to develop further.

Shirley Was Also Friends with Famous Musicians

In the movie, Lip has Shirley listen to Black musicians like Aretha Franklin and Chubby Checker. However, Shirley didn't really need help connecting to Black performers; he was friends with Duke Ellington and admired by Sarah Vaughan. During a performance of George Gershwin's "Concerto in F" at the Metropolitan Opera, Shirley was accompanied by the Alvin Ailey dancers, showcasing his significant connections in the music world.

Although Shirley was a musical genius, he disliked being labeled merely as an entertainer or a jazz musician, as he wasn't a fan of improvisation. He started reaching for the piano at the age of two, played the church organ at three—his father was an Episcopal priest—and was studying musical theory by the age of nine. In 1945, an 18-year-old Shirley made his concert debut with the Boston Pops.

After being told that white audiences wouldn't accept a Black pianist, Shirley shifted his career focus toward popular music. Nonetheless, his musical interests remained diverse, encompassing everything from classical and spiritual to musical theater. As he stated in a 1982 interview with The New York Times, "The Black experience through music, with a sense of dignity, that’s all I have ever tried to do."

Families of Lip and Shirley Have Different Perspectives on Their Stories

Lip's son, Nick, who co-wrote Green Book, taped his father recounting numerous stories, including his road trip with Shirley. These recordings were instrumental in creating the film but also emphasized Lip's interpretation of events. In one particular scene, Lip instructs Shirley on how to eat fried chicken. This moment was brought up in the tapes; however, Shirley's brother, Maurice, stated that his brother wasn't introduced to the dish by Lip.

This discrepancy highlights the vagaries of memory, especially when Lip was recorded years later. It’s possible that racist stereotypes about the food and the Black community may have influenced Shirley's desire not to eat it in front of Lip. With both Lip and Shirley gone, it remains uncertain what truly happened.

What is more certain is that Shirley's trip had a profound impact on Lip. The movie portrays Lip as having been racist, using derogatory language and actions. However, witnessing the injustices that Shirley faced changed Lip's perspective. As Nick mentioned in an interview with Metro, "He didn’t like people being mistreated. It changed his attitude. It changed the way he raised us, his attitude towards other people."

The Pair Maintained Their Friendship Until Their Deaths

Since the 1950s, Shirley had been living in a beautiful apartment above Carnegie Hall, filled with paintings, glassware, and gifts from his fans, including a throne! After their road trip, Lip would visit, sometimes bringing his family along. Shirley, a psychologist, seemed intrigued by Lip's psychological makeup and welcomed these visits, suggesting a deepening friendship.

Both Shirley and Lip were in their 30s during their travels, which meant they had many years of life ahead of them. Lip later became an actor, appearing in iconic roles on The Sopranos, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas. Meanwhile, Shirley remained devoted to his music, performing at venues ranging from La Scala in Milan to nightclubs in New York City. Throughout their lives, they kept in touch.

When Nick expressed interest in turning their story into a film, Lip insisted that his son obtain Shirley's permission first. When Shirley requested that the film not be made while he was alive, Lip made sure his son adhered to that wish. Ultimately, both Lip and Shirley passed away within months of each other in 2013.