Difference between revisions of "Pearl Bailey" - New World Encyclopedia
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==Childhood and Early Career== | ==Childhood and Early Career== | ||
| − | She was born in Newport News, Virginia, ( | + | She was born in Newport News, Virginia, (also the birth place of legendary jazz singer [[Ella Fitzgerald]]) to Rev. Joseph & Ella Mae Bailey. She had two sisters, Virgie and Eura and a brother, Willie “Bill” Bailey whose career as a tap dancer was revitalized through the movie ‘’Taps’’ starring Gregory Hines in 1989. Pearl Bailey had Cree Indian ancestry on both sides of her family. |
Although Pearl Bailey had no official training in music she attributed her love of music to her childhood experience in a Pentecostal "holy roller" church where her father was a preacher. Her parents divorced when she was four and the children divided their time between their mother’s home in Philadelphia and their father’s in Washington D.C. Pearl dropped out of high school to pursue the vaudeville circuit after winning a talent contest at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Later in life, she would pursue a lifelong dream of receiving a higher education by returning to college in her late 60s. | Although Pearl Bailey had no official training in music she attributed her love of music to her childhood experience in a Pentecostal "holy roller" church where her father was a preacher. Her parents divorced when she was four and the children divided their time between their mother’s home in Philadelphia and their father’s in Washington D.C. Pearl dropped out of high school to pursue the vaudeville circuit after winning a talent contest at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Later in life, she would pursue a lifelong dream of receiving a higher education by returning to college in her late 60s. | ||
She made her Broadway debut in the all black musical by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen's ''St. Louis Woman '' in 1946. This was a breakthrough part that took Pearl from Vaudeville to Broadway. Her debut earned her the Donaldson Award as best newcomer on Broadway that year. (quote critic here) She honed her distinctive style of entertaining through her nightclub acts performing with Cab Calloway, who would become a life long freind, at the Zanzibar Nightclub on Broadway. Her humorous and folksy style was well loved by audiences; she was often simply called “Pearley Mae” by her fans and close friends. | She made her Broadway debut in the all black musical by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen's ''St. Louis Woman '' in 1946. This was a breakthrough part that took Pearl from Vaudeville to Broadway. Her debut earned her the Donaldson Award as best newcomer on Broadway that year. (quote critic here) She honed her distinctive style of entertaining through her nightclub acts performing with Cab Calloway, who would become a life long freind, at the Zanzibar Nightclub on Broadway. Her humorous and folksy style was well loved by audiences; she was often simply called “Pearley Mae” by her fans and close friends. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the 1940s she also performed with other Jazz greats such as William "Count" Basie and her husband Louie Bellson with USO tours entertaining troops overseas. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the 1950s she played important roles in two all-balck major studio musicals: Carmen (1954) an updated musical rendition of the Bizet's opera. In 1950 she played Maria in Porgey and Bess, also starring [[Sidney Poitier]]. She was a featured performer at President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]'s inauguration in 1957. | ||
==Marriage and Family life== | ==Marriage and Family life== | ||
Revision as of 14:59, 9 December 2006
Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American singer and actress. She is probably most remembered for her role as matchmaker "Dolly Gallagher Levi" in David Merrick's production of Hello Dolly! - a part first created on Broadway by Carol Channing. The all-black version of Hello, Dolly! played on Broadway from 1967 to 1969. She won the theatre's highest honor, the Tony Award, for her performance. Pearl Bailey’s career spanned nearly fifty years in all forms from Vaudeville to Broadway to Television. Her unique delivery, which included ad-libbing and bantering back and forth with the audience, added to her personability and charisma. Throughout her life she performed with her husband, jazz drummer Louie Bellson and other notable musicians such as Louis Armstrong on USO tours (United Service Organization) entertaining troops overseas. She was appointed an “ambassador of love” by President Richard Nixon in 1970 and went on to serve as a special ambassador to the United Nations through three more presidential administrations. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. .
Childhood and Early Career
She was born in Newport News, Virginia, (also the birth place of legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald) to Rev. Joseph & Ella Mae Bailey. She had two sisters, Virgie and Eura and a brother, Willie “Bill” Bailey whose career as a tap dancer was revitalized through the movie ‘’Taps’’ starring Gregory Hines in 1989. Pearl Bailey had Cree Indian ancestry on both sides of her family.
Although Pearl Bailey had no official training in music she attributed her love of music to her childhood experience in a Pentecostal "holy roller" church where her father was a preacher. Her parents divorced when she was four and the children divided their time between their mother’s home in Philadelphia and their father’s in Washington D.C. Pearl dropped out of high school to pursue the vaudeville circuit after winning a talent contest at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Later in life, she would pursue a lifelong dream of receiving a higher education by returning to college in her late 60s.
She made her Broadway debut in the all black musical by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen's St. Louis Woman in 1946. This was a breakthrough part that took Pearl from Vaudeville to Broadway. Her debut earned her the Donaldson Award as best newcomer on Broadway that year. (quote critic here) She honed her distinctive style of entertaining through her nightclub acts performing with Cab Calloway, who would become a life long freind, at the Zanzibar Nightclub on Broadway. Her humorous and folksy style was well loved by audiences; she was often simply called “Pearley Mae” by her fans and close friends.
In the 1940s she also performed with other Jazz greats such as William "Count" Basie and her husband Louie Bellson with USO tours entertaining troops overseas.
In the 1950s she played important roles in two all-balck major studio musicals: Carmen (1954) an updated musical rendition of the Bizet's opera. In 1950 she played Maria in Porgey and Bess, also starring Sidney Poitier. She was a featured performer at President Dwight D. Eisenhower's inauguration in 1957.
Marriage and Family life
Bailey was married for 40 years to jazz drummer Louie Bellson who also had a long distinguished career as an entertainer, notably as a drummer and big band leader. He not only performed with Pearl Bailey but along with other jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong. Bellson has performed at the White House more times than any other performer except for Bob Hope. Together the Baily-Bellsons adopted two children,
Later Life: Education and Charity Work
Pearl Bailey signs her autograph, "All Love, Pearl". - -and she means it. This rare treasure has a heart as big as the world.
If there is a benefit for children, Pearl is supporting it. If one cares about other's liberty and rights, Pearl is there, standing tall and advocating that the ethical and fair thing be done. If AIDS is the issue, Pearl rolls up her sleeves and wades right in to see that the humane thing be done. In other words, Pearl loves people... all kinds of people, any age, any race, any nationality, any philosophy. To her, people are people
After Georgetown University in Washington D.C. awarded Pearl Bailey an honorary degree in she decided to return to college in earnest becoming a full-time undergraduate freshman at the age of 67. Fulfilling a life long dream of being a college graduate she finished school with a B.A. in Theology.
Bailey took part in a campaign ad for President Gerald Ford in the 1976 United States presidential election.
Awards Women's International Center presented the Living Legacy Award to Miss Pearl Bailey, on March 11, 1989. She was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom on October 17, 1988 by President Ronald Reagan for: put here
Pearl Bailey died from heart failure in 1990 at the age of 72.
End of Life - Awards
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Bailey, Pearl, The Raw Pearl. New York: Harcourt, 1968. ISBN 0151759308
- Bailey, Pearl, Talking to Myself. New York: Harcourt, 1971. ASIN B000DCO646
- Bailey, Pearl, Between You and Me: A Heartfelt Memoir on Learning, Loving, and Living. New York: Doubleday, 1989. ISBN 0385262027
- Bailey, Pearl, Pearl’s Kitchen: An Extraordinary Cookbook. New York: Harcourt, 1973. ISBN 0151716005
- Bailey, Pearl, Duey’s Tale. New York: Harcourt, 1975. ISBN 0151265763
- Bailey, Pearl, Hurry Up, America, and Spit. New York: Harcourt, 1976. ISBN 0151430004
External links
- The African American Registry
- Women's History
- Women's International Center
- Norfolk Music Legends
- Daily Celebrations
- Bailey Poster
- Pearl Bailey's Gravesite
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bailey, Pearl Mae |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 29 1918 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Southampton County, Virginia |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 17 1990 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
