Pearl Bailey

Pearl Bailey in “St. Louis Woman”, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1946

Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American singer and actress. She is probably most remembered for her role as "Dolly Gallagher Levi" in Hello Dolly a part first performed by Carol Channing. The all-black version of Hello, Dolly! played on Broadway from 1967 to 1969.

Many know Pearl Bailey as a consummate entertainer, and that is true. Since she was a young girl, she has been singing, performing, entertaining, innovating, captivating her audience throughout the world. She has performed in all mediums, from night clubs to the stage on Broadway to movies to television. She has appeared in such hits as "Variety Girl", "Isn't It Romantic", "Carmen Jones", "That Certain Feeling", "St. Louis Blues", and "Porgy and Bess". She has received the theater's highest honor, the Tony Award. c

Childhood and Early Career

She made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. She won a Tony Award, the theater's highest honor, for the title role in Hello, Dolly! in 1968. Her rendition of "Takes Two to Tango" hit the top ten in 1952.

She was born in Southampton County, Virginia, to Rev. Joseph & Ella Mae Bailey. Her father was a preacher in an evangelical church (what Pearl referrd to as a "Holy Roller" church) and she attributes her love of music to her childhood singing hymns and spirituals. Her church also instilled in her a lifelong quest in her faith.

In 1954, she took the role of Frankie in the film version of Carmen Jones, and her rendition of "Beat Out That Rhythm on the Drum" is one of the highlights of the film. In 1959, she played the role of Maria in the film version of Porgy and Bess, starring Sidney Poitier and Dorothy Dandridge. Also that year she played the role of "Aunt Hagar" in the movie St. Louis Blues alongside Mahalia Jackson, Eartha Kitt, and Nat King Cole. During the 1970s she had her own television show, and she also provided voices for animations such as Tubby the Tuba (1976) and Walt Disneys The Fox and the Hound (1981).

Marriage and Family life

Bailey was married for 40 years to jazz drummer Louie Bellson who himself had a notable career as a big band leader and drummer. He not only performed with Pearl Bailey but along with other musicians 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

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.

References

ISBN 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

Credits

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