In 1967, she won a Tony Award for heading the all-black cast of "Hello, Dolly!" a role that allowed her, she said, to "sing, dance, say intelligent words on stage, love and be loved and deliver what God gave me -- and I'm dressed up be
William Christopher Handy, the "Father of the Blues," was born in Florence, Alabama, on November 16, 1873. Both his father and grandfather were ministers.
When Evelyn Poitier visited a clairvoyant to ask about the fate of her premature son, it was more hope than actual belief that soothed her worries. Little did she, or anyone else, know the palm reader's prophecy was true -- that this infant,would in
One of the most celebrated contraltos of our age, Marian Anderson was born into a poor family in Philadelphia on February 27, 1897. Her father sold coal and ice; her mother took in laundry.
Most Americans best remember Marian Anderson for her conscience-grabbing concert at Lincoln Center on Easter Sunday, 1939 after she was denied the use of Constitution Hall, an arena that, from 1935 to 1952, opened its doors to white artists only.
In 1925, she entered a New York Philharmonic voice competition where she won first prize. Her debut with the Philharmonic on August 26, 1925 was a critical success. In the early 1930's she went on a concert tour of Europe, where her reputation was es
The illustrious name of Tamla Motown was founded largely on its roster of vocal groups and the spin-off solo careers of stars like Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. But, just in case the music got a little too smooth and studio-bound, Junior Walker was at hand
The most talented of Motown's superstars alongside Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye was one of the greatest singers, songwriters and eclectic visionaries in all of soul music.
