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 the "Dolly" in Hello Dolly a part first made famous by Carol Channing.

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 and instilled a lifelong interest in faith in Pearl.

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).

Later Life: Education and Charity Work

After Georgetown University 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. 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 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

She was married for nearly 40 years to jazz drummer Louie Bellson who has had a notable career as a big band leader and drummer. He has not only performed with Pearl Bailey but along with other notables like Louis Armstrong, has performed at the White House more times than any other performer except for Bob Hope. Together the Baily-Bellsons adopted two children, .

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

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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