A shining star who’s still rising

West Hempstead native Ty Glascoe revisits his acting, music career

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West Hempstead native Tyron Glascoe had dreamed about becoming a singer since grade school. He got a taste of that dream as a 14-year-old in 2005, when he won a singing competition by performing “Let Me Love You,” by Mario, at Roosevelt Field Mall.

Now 28 and known professionally as Ty Glascoe, he never envisioned that he would perform nightly on an Indian cruise ship. In September, he landed a lead role in the burlesque musical “Written in the Stars” in Mumbai, India. He now performs on the Karnika, which sails the Arabian Sea.

“I just wanted to sing,” Glascoe said. “I’ve learned that it’s all about keeping an open mind and being really flexible.”

Glascoe split his secondary school time between Nassau BOCES Long Island School for the Arts and West Hempstead High School, and graduated in 2009. Influenced by singers such as Michael Jackson, Usher and Beyoncé, Glascoe started writing and recording his own music after graduation, and took dancing classes in New York City. After landing a gig as a professional dancer with the talent agency Clear Talent Group in 2012, he relocated to Atlanta from 2013 to 2016, where he began his career as an actor.

“I loved the art of performing,” Glascoe said. “That’s what kept me open to acting.”

During his years in Atlanta, he learned the ins and outs of the music and entertainment industry. He performed at local parks, and would walk miles to auditions, because he couldn’t afford a car.

In 2013, Glascoe met music producer Kevin Taylor, who took an interest in him. The two have since recorded numerous songs together. “He’s so professional, but at the same time he’s down to earth,” Taylor said. “What’s so interesting is that I didn’t realize how multifaceted he was. I gradually realized his skills over time.”

Along with recording music with Taylor, Glascoe’s career as an actor took off when he signed with the Aligned Stars Agency in 2014. He has since appeared in television dramas such as “Complications” and “Powers.”

“It’s been exciting and rewarding to watch his growth over the years,” Taylor said. “To see him express that on bigger platforms and just doing the stuff that he was born to do is fulfilling.”

Glascoe relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 with the hope of furthering his career, and landed more gigs as a dancer in music videos for artists and bands such as Justin Timberlake, Wiz Khalifa and 30 Seconds to Mars.

“People in the industry know me for different things,” he said. “I think that’s why I’ve managed to get around and land gigs over the years.”

Glascoe attributed many of his skills to his mother, Jonette. She said that he started singing songs at 3 years old in his crib. “I was always so proud of him,” Jonette said. “He’s so ambitious and goal-oriented. He never really had a Plan B. He’s a little stubborn, he’s very strong-willed, but he’s driven.”

As for Ty’s personal life, he said that he hasn’t been home for the holidays in nearly a decade. While he doesn’t have a family of his own yet, he hopes to start one in the future.

Even after all his experience, he stills struggles with rejection and the uncertainty of getting the next gig. But Taylor said that Glascoe’s determination is what keeps him going.  “That one quality alone will get you really far,” Taylor said. “Even when he didn’t have a car and we were far apart, he would figure out a way to make it happen. He’s not letting anything stop him.”

Glascoe said he hopes to continue acting, and that he plans on releasing an R&B album later this year. “Right now,” he said, “I’m just trying to stay completely open to what the universe brings me.”