Loretta Mae Long is an American actress, voice artist, singer, media personality, and educator. She has played the character of Susan Robinson on Sesame Street since its debut in 1969. Long earned her Ph.D. in urban education in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst while she was starring on Sesame Street. She has acted in musicals and appeared on the Flip Wilson Show with other Sesame Street cast members during its first season. In the early years, she voiced a few female Muppet voices including Roosevelt Franklin's mother, Suzetta and other Muppets where a female voice was needed. In addition to starring on Sesame Street, Long is a consultant and public speaker on issues of multiculturalism and education.
Career
Before Sesame Street, Long served as co-host of the WNET program SOUL! a weekly music, cultural, social and artistic PBS program, from its premier broadcast on September 12, 1968 through December 5, 1968. At the same time, Long also was a substitute teacher in New York City. She continued to substitute teach during her early days working for Sesame Street, occasionally causing confusion for students who had watched her on Sesame Street before coming to school and then saw her in their classroom later that same morning.
Education
Long commuted to the University of Massachusetts on her days off from Sesame Street to complete a Ph.D., awarded in 1973. Her dissertation, "'Sesame Street': A Space Age Approach to Education for Space Age Kids", examined the educational model used on Sesame Street.
''Sesame Street''
Long's main role on Sesame Street is Susan, the wife of Gordon Robinson. In early seasons, her character was a housewife; afterwards, her role expanded to that of being a nurse, as well as the mother of adopted son Miles. Long has also lent her voice to various Muppet segments on Sesame Street, particularly in the early seasons. On the 8th episode of the first season, she was the voice of the mother Muppet in the song "Five People in My Family". She also voiced the mother of Roosevelt Franklin and a backup singer in the nonsense song "Mahna Mahna".
Musical career
She recorded Susan Sings Songs from Sesame Street in 1970, including the "ABC Song" and "If You're Happy and You Know It". The album reached #86 on Billboard's Top LP's chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Recording for Children in 1971, ultimately losing to another Sesame Street recording. In 1975, Long released a single under her own name on RCA Records called "Rainy Day Friend" with a B-side titled "July the 12th, 1939".
