Pearl Bailey
Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American singer and actress. She made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. She won a Tony Award 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. 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 Disney's The Fox and the Hound (1981). Later in life, she earned a B.A. in Theology from Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 1985.
Bailey took part in a campaign ad for President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election.
She was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom on October 17, 1988.
She was married to jazz drummer Louie Bellson.
Pearl Bailey died from heart failure in 1990 at the age of 72.
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 |
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