#mahalia icons

[tokyicons]

british queens

like/reblog if you use or save

follow @tokyicons for more

[eptodaytommorowforever]

Elvis Presley And The Black Community ✝️🙏🙏🏾

When Elvis Presley The 20th Century Icon And Legend Met The Queen Of Gospel Mahalia Jackson In Hollywood At The NBC/ Universal Studio’s In 1969

Elvis Presley And Actress Gospel Singer Barbara MCNair And The Director Of Elvis Presley’s Movie A Change Of Habit On Seen Here In This B/W Photo Candid Unseen Till Now Very Rare At The NBC/ Universal Set In Hollywood All Meet The Queen Of Gospel Herself Mahalia Jackson Who As Paid A Visit And As Been Invited To Meet Elvis Presley Through Her Friend Actress Gospel Singer Barbara McNair Who Was Elvis Presley’s Co Star ⭐️ In The Movie As Well Barbara McNair Said That Mahalia Jackson When She Met Elvis Presley With Her Was The Humblest Sweetest Beautifulest Graceful Star ⭐️ Human Being She Had Ever Met In Her Life And Said He Loved God ✝️And Gospel Music 🎵 A Fact We All Know As True In The Elvis Presley World 🌎

[reasoningdaily]

Jessica B. Harris's Guide to Black Culinary History | Bon Appétit

Jessica B. Harris, Dawn Davis

Bahia, Brooklyn, New Orleans, Martha’s Vineyard, and Paris are the places she’s called home. Erudite, wickedly funny, and droll describe her personality. Who are we talking about?

None other than the culinary historian Jessica B. Harris, Ph.D.—founding member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, a professional society championing women in culinary fields, an award-winning journalist, podcaster, and author of over a dozen deeply researched books and too many articles to count. (If you’re looking for something that goes down like butter, check out her memoir, My Soul Looks Back, filled with tales about her adventures in New York’s Greenwich Village with friends James Baldwin and Maya Angelou.)

As the foremost expert on the foodways of the African diaspora, there’s no better (or wittier) guide to Black culinary traditions. Here, she shares with us a few of the dishes, books, and ingredients she finds essential to unpacking this long, rich, and ever-evolving history. —Dawn Davis, editor in chief

Photo by Suzi Pratt

Try the Homestyle Favorites

Chef Edouardo Jordan’s JuneBaby restaurant in Seattle is an edible praise song to the genius of African American cooks. The menu offers classic dishes like fried chicken and greens along with specials—like chitlins and Momma Jordan’s oxtails—not usually tasted outside of home kitchens.

Tour the Archives

Toni Tipton-Martin’s The Jemima Code reclaims and celebrates the heritage of Black America’s controversial “aunt” by documenting 200 years of African American cookbooks from her personal collection. Familiar figures such as Edna Lewis show up alongside unexpected personalities such as activist Bobby Seale and singer Mahalia Jackson in this must-own compendium.

Photo by Emma Fishman

Eat Like an Icon

The late New Orleans chef Leah Chase served Gumbo z’Herbes once a year on Holy Thursday. The dense green meaty gumbo is essential to the rich culinary history of the area’s Creoles de couleur. It’s still served annually at Dooky Chase’s, her iconic family restaurant.

Photo Courtesy Cuisine Noir/Ilaria Sponda

Required Reading

Two invaluable resources for those who want to deepen their knowledge: Black Culinary History and Cuisine Noir. Both websites preserve and promote the past and present contributions of chefs of color throughout the African diaspora.

For The Bucket List

The food of São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos in northeastern Brazil is a linchpin between the food of western Africa and that of the Western Hemisphere. To taste a fish stew called a moqueca or nibble on an acarajé, a street food bean fritter, is to understand the connections.

Photo by Mike Lorrig

More Okra, Please

Okra, which originated on the African continent, is a love/hate vegetable. Its detractors hate the “slime” and the lovers delight in the way it thickens a soup or stew and its crunch when blanched. Get recipes, history, and gardening tips, in The Whole Okra by Chris Smith.

Photo from Vintage Postcards From the African World: In the Dignity of Their Work and the Joy of Their Play by Jessica B Harris,, University Press of Mississippi

Share Knowledge

You can find incredible images of African Americans and food on vintage postcards in my latest book, Vintage Postcards from the African World. They not only present the faces of ancestors but also tell amazing, often harrowing, stories of survival and triumph over adversity.

[thedemostop]

Spiritual Voices: Honoring the Legacy of Famous Gospel Singers

Embark on a soul-stirring journey through the rich tapestry of gospel music, honoring the enduring legacy of famous gospel singers whose voices resonate with the power of faith and inspiration. From the sanctified sanctuaries of historic churches to the global stages of contemporary music, these iconic artists have transcended boundaries and touched the hearts of listeners around the world.

Experience the electrifying performances of Mahalia Jackson, whose commanding presence and stirring vocals defined the golden age of gospel music and inspired generations of artists.

[lboogie1906]

Ledisi Anibade Young (born March 28, 1972) known as Ledisi, is an R&B and jazz recording artist, songwriter, music producer, author, and actress.

She formed a band. She formed LeSun Records with Sundra Manning. They released her debut album entitled Soulsinger featuring the song “Take Time”.

She re-released Soulsinger: The Revival, and she released her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, which won “Outstanding Jazz Album” at the California Music Awards. She released her third album, titled Lost & Found, it sold almost 217,000 copies and earned her two Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist. She released her Christmas album, It’s Christmas.

She released her fourth album Turn Me Loose, which earned her two Grammy nominations, followed by her fifth album Pieces of Me, which debuted on the US Billboard 200 album chart at #8, becoming the first top-ten album of her career and her highest-charting album to date. It garnered three Grammy nominations at the 54th Grammy Awards including for Best R&B Album. She received a nomination for Best R&B Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards for her collaboration for the album cut “Gonna Be Alright” from his fifth album Black Radio. She released her sixth album The Truth, followed by albums Let Love Rule, The Wild Card, and Ledisi Sings Nina, all of which have earned varying degrees of chart success and multiple Grammy Award nominations. She has released eleven studio albums and earned fourteen Grammy Award nominations to date, winning her first for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Anything For You”.

She has embarked on a career in film and television as an actress. She portrayed gospel icon Mahalia Jackson in the films Selma and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story. Other roles include Patti LaBelle in American Soul, a cameo appearance as a choir member in Pose, as well as Gladys Knight in Spinning Gold. She is set to star in All Saints Christmas.

She was born in New Orleans and was raised in Oakland. She earned a scholarship to study opera and piano for five years at UC Berkeley in their Young Musicians Program. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #deltasigmatheta #womenhistorymonth

[rockzone]

Palace Of The King - Friends In Low Places

Release Date: 14 Dec 2023

Australian hard rockers Palace Of The King have a new album out called “Friends in Low places”, and it's sure to get your heart and fists pumping.

Palace Of The King is known for high-octane performances and a unique blend of classic and modern rock influences. With a string of acclaimed releases and a reputation for captivating live shows, the band has firmly established themselves as one of the Australia's most exciting rock acts.

The past decade has been triumphant for this band. They have toured Europe as headliners and guests with the mighty Airbourne, three visits to the USA, and relentless touring across Australia as headliners and alongside iconic acts such as Rose Tattoo, The Angels, The Screaming Jets, Baby Animals, Tea Party, Endless Boogie, Kingswood, Quireboys, and many more.

They have released two EPs, three albums, a live EP ('Live In Espana'), and a string of powerful singles, including collaborations with Rusty Brown of Electric Mary ('Space Truckin’), Mahalia Barnes ('Black Cloud'), and Angry Anderson of Rose Tattoo ('Legalise').

Their latest offering, 'Friends In Low Places,' is packed with powerful riffs, fuzz-filled hooks, and blazing performances. The album showcases everything from head-banging riff monsters like 'Tear It Down' and 'Children Of The Evolution' to soulful grooves on 'Down On Your Luck,' 'Get Right With Your Maker,' and 'A Run For Your Money.'

The album also introduces new elements with fuzz monsters like 'Dead End Blues' and the angular 'I’m Sorry Blues,' bravely propelling the band into the future.

[whatsonmedia]

Saturday Showdown: Glastonbury Epic Lineup!

Glastonbury Festival's Saturday lineup is here, and it's a musical extravaganza like no other! Brace yourself for a day filled with iconic headliners, mesmerizing performances, and an eclectic mix of genres. From rock legends to chart-topping sensations, this lineup promises to ignite your senses and leave you craving for more. Get ready to immerse yourself in the magic of Glastonbury as Saturday sets the stage ablaze with unforgettable moments that will echo through music history. Pyramid Stage - 21:30 - 23:45: Experience the electrifying performance of Guns N' Roses as they take the stage. - 19:30 - 20:30: Get ready to dance and sing along with the incredible Lizzo. - 17:35 - 18:35: Lewis Capaldi will captivate the crowd with his soulful voice and heartfelt songs. - 16:00 - 17:00: Aitch brings his unique style and energy to deliver an unforgettable performance. - 14:30 - 15:30: Amadou & Mariam will transport you with their enchanting melodies. - 13:15 - 14:00: Enjoy the soulful tunes and powerful vocals of Raye. - 12:00 - 12:45: Rick Astley will take you on a nostalgic journey with his timeless hits. Other Stage - 22:30 - 23:45: Immerse yourself in the dreamy sounds of Lana Del Rey. - 20:45 - 21:45: Central Cee will deliver an energetic and unforgettable set. - 18:45 - 19:45: Manic Street Preachers will rock the stage with their anthemic tunes. - 17:15 - 18:15: Don't miss Maggie Rogers as she showcases her unique blend of folk and pop. - 15:45 - 16:45: Generation Sex will bring their infectious energy and catchy tunes to the stage. - 14:15 - 15:15: Tom Grennan's powerful voice and heartfelt lyrics will leave a lasting impression. - 13:00 - 13:45: The Lathums will captivate you with their indie-rock sound. - 11:45 - 12:30: The Unthanks will create a mesmerizing atmosphere with their beautiful harmonies. Woodsies (formerly John Peel Stage) - 22:30 - 23:45: Christine and the Queens will mesmerize you with their innovative and captivating performance. - 21:00 - 22:00: Rina Sawayama will bring her unique pop sound and fierce energy to the stage. - 19:30 - 20:30: Måneskin will deliver a powerful and electrifying rock performance. - 18:00 - 19:00: Prepare to be amazed by the yet-to-be-announced act. - 16:30 - 17:30: Shame will ignite the stage with their raucous punk sound. - 15:15 - 16:00: The Murder Capital will captivate you with their intense and atmospheric music. - 14:00 - 14:45: Working Men's Club will bring their indie-electro vibes to get you moving. - 12:45 - 13:30: Wunderhorse will showcase their unique blend of genres and mesmerizing sound. - 11:30 - 12:15: The Last Dinner Party will kick off the day with their energetic and catchy tunes. The Park Stage - 23:00 - 00:15: Get ready to dance and groove with the legendary Fatboy Slim. - 21:15 - 22:15: Leftfield will deliver a mesmerizing electronic set that will transport you to another world. - 19:45 - 20:45: Be prepared for a yet-to-be-announced act that will leave you spellbound. - 18:15 - 19:15: Tinariwen will bring their mesmerizing desert blues to the stage. - 16:45 - 17:45: Obongjayar will captivate you with his unique blend of afrobeat and soul. - 15:15 - 16:15: Jockstrap will deliver an eclectic and experimental performance. - 14:00 - 14:45: Flohio will impress you with West Holts Stage - 22:15 - 23:45: Loyle Carner takes the stage, captivating the crowd with his poetic lyrics and smooth flow. - 20:30 - 21:30: Mahalia enchants with her soulful voice and heartfelt R&B melodies. - 19:00 - 20:00: Get ready to groove to the infectious jazz fusion sounds of Ezra Collective. - 17:30 - 18:30: Jacob Collier delivers a mesmerizing performance with his innovative musical style. - 16:00 - 17:00: Third World brings their reggae rhythms and positive vibes to create an unforgettable experience. - 14:30 - 15:30: Sudan Archives mesmerizes with her unique blend of electronic beats and traditional Sudanese sounds. - 13:00 - 14:00: Kanda Bongo Man delivers an energetic performance, infusing the stage with African dance rhythms. - 11:30 - 12:30: Say She She kicks off the day with their infectious fusion of world music and captivating vocals. Acoustic Stage - 21:30 - 22:45: Paul Carrack serenades the audience with his soulful voice and timeless hits. - 20:00 - 21:00: Glen Hansard captivates with his raw and emotive folk melodies. - 18:30 - 19:30: Glenn Tilbrook delivers an intimate and enchanting performance, showcasing his songwriting prowess. - 17:00 - 18:00: Richard Thompson mesmerizes with his virtuosic guitar skills and poignant storytelling. - 16:00 - 16:40: Badly Drawn Boy charms with his whimsical indie folk tunes. - 15:00 - 15:40: The Sharon Shannon Trio brings their energetic Irish folk sound to the stage. - 14:00 - 14:40: The Magic Numbers create beautiful harmonies and heartfelt melodies that resonate with the crowd. - 13:00 - 13:40: Roo Panes enchants with his atmospheric folk sound and introspective lyrics. - 12:10 - 12:40: Katya showcases her soulful voice and captivating stage presence. - 11:30 - 12:00: Clare Sands opens the stage with her unique blend of folk and jazz influences. Avalon Stage - 23:05 - 00:15: Vintage Trouble ignites the crowd with their electrifying blend of rock and soul. - 21:35 - 22:35: Melanie C brings her iconic pop hits and powerful vocals to create an unforgettable performance. - 20:05 - 21:05: Jake Shears delivers a high-energy show, showcasing his infectious pop sound. - 18:35 - 19:35: Gabrielle Aplin mesmerizes with her ethereal voice and heartfelt songwriting. - 17:05 - 18:05: Fisherman's Friends create a rousing and joyous atmosphere with their sea shanties. - 15:35 - 16:35: Joanne Shaw Taylor captivates with her soulful blues guitar skills and powerful voice. - 14:10 - 15:05: Beans on Toast delivers his unique blend of folk storytelling and witty lyrics. - 12:50 - 13:45: Holy Moly & The Crackers bring their infectious blend of folk, rock, and gypsy influences to the stage. - 11:30 - 12:20: Cable Street Collective kicks off the day with their lively fusion of Afrobeat and pop. Arcadia - 02:00 - 03:00: VTSS takes the stage, delivering a pulsating techno set that will keep the crowd dancing. - 01:00 - 02:00: Skream B2B Interplanetary Criminal create an electrifying atmosphere with their seamless DJ collaboration. Read the full article

[allsoymadestore]

Tina Turner, rock and roll icon, dead at 83

Tina Turner, a soul and rock powerhouse known for her octave-defying voice and mesmerizing stage moves, has died at the age of 83.

She died Wednesday in her home in Switzerland after a long period of illness, according to a statement from her publicist. In her 2018 memoir, Tina Turner: My Love Story, Turner detailed a litany of health issues she had dealt with since 2013, including a stroke, intestinal cancer and kidney failure. Her second husband, Erwin Bach, donated a kidney to her in 2017, saving her life.

In a recording career that spanned six decades, Turner found fame both as a solo artist and in a duo with her first husband, Ike Turner. With the latter, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and became a staple of the U.S. pop and R&B charts in the 1960s and '70s. The duo's high-energy soul and rock was informed by Tina's disparate vocal influences. She grew up listening to country music, but had many idols: '50s R&B singers LaVern Baker and Faye Adams; gospel great Mahalia Jackson and rock pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe; blues legend B.B. King; and soul greats Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. Accordingly, she had a malleable and versatile voice, and could unleash a scalding rock growl, or dip into her lower register and sing the smoky blues or velvety R&B numbers. One of Ike & Tina's most well-known songs, "River Deep, Mountain High," was even a Phil Spector-produced, orchestral-gospel triumph.

An agile vocal interpreter, Turner also made other people's iconic songs her own — adding a tone of yearning and desperation to The Beatles' already-pleading "Come Together," and layering on more of a country twang to The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women." Her signature tune, a fiery transformation of Creedence Clearwater Revival's laid-back "Proud Mary," became a showcase for her sultry soul drawl and raspy rock 'n' roll yelp. The latter song won Turner her first Grammy Award, for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. She would win eight Grammys overall — including best female rock vocal performance for three years in a row during the '80s.

In addition to her vocal prowess, Turner had a commanding stage presence that was often characterized as "electrifying." This descriptor somehow always seemed like an understatement: At the microphone, Turner vibrated with energy, like a simmering pot about to boil over, and she possessed natural athleticism that translated to lithe but powerful onstage dancing. "Someone once called Tina 'the female Mick Jagger,'" Rolling Stone's Ben Fong-Torres wrote in 1971. "In fact, to be more accurate, one should call Mick 'the male Tina Turner.'" (This is no mere critical hyperbole: In the same Rolling Stone feature, Turner herself insinuated that Jagger studied her moves rather closely when she and Ike toured with the Rolling Stones in 1969.) Naturally, when the pair teamed up for a barnburning cover of the Jacksons' "State of Shock" at Live Aid in 1985, the combination was incendiary.

"I'm so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner," Jagger said in a statement on Instagram. "She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her."

Born Anna Mae Bullock on Nov. 26, 1939, Turner grew up in rural Nutbush, Tenn., but also spent time in Knoxville, as her parents moved there for work. Growing up, she had a distant relationship with both her father, who abandoned the family when she was 13, and mother. But performing came naturally, and became her solace. In Tina Turner: My Love Story, she describes music-filled shopping excursions — being 4 or 5 years old and being paid by salesgirls to sing radio hits she had memorized — and the exhilaration of leading her cousins, half-sister Evelyn, and sister Alline in pretend stage shows. Later, she honed her performing presence further by singing at picnics with a regionally famous trombonist named Mr. Bootsy Whitelaw.

Turner moved to St. Louis at age 16 to live with Alline and her mother, and began going to the famed East St. Louis venue Club Manhattan, where she first saw Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm. In 1957, she ended up joining the group after her impromptu performance of B.B. King's "You Know I Love You" wowed the bandleader. The troupe was eventually rechristened the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, highlighting her elevated role.

By all accounts, Ike was excessively cruel toward Tina, both personally and professionally. "Looking back, I realize that my relationship with Ike was doomed the day he figured out that I was going to be his meal ticket, his moneymaker," Turner wrote in My Love Story. She then described how she was a last-minute replacement to sing on "A Fool In Love" — which became the duo's first hit, reaching No. 2 on the R&B charts in 1960 — and was impressive enough that a label head told Ike to make Tina the group's centerpiece. "What went through Ike's head when he heard that advice?" she continued. "He had to find a way to protect his interests, and that's when the trouble began."

Over the years, Turner has been open about certain aspects of their time together, although she told the New York Times in 2019 that she's never divulged all: "I think I'm ashamed. I feel I told enough." But Ike was mentally controlling — for example, he rechristened her "Tina Turner" and then trademarked the name, both without her consent — and physically abusive. She was nearly penniless when she left him in 1976, while the pair were on tour in Dallas. "I walked out without anything and had to make it on my own for my family and everyone so I just went back to work for myself," she said during a 2017 appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show.

Turner had released two solo albums while still performing with Ike, 1974's Tina Turns the Country On! — a stripped-down LP featuring her take on songs by Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton and Kris Kristofferson — and 1975's rock-oriented covers album Acid Queen. Her first entertainment forays post-split geared toward mainstream fare — the game show Hollywood Squares and Cher's variety TV series — and cabaret-style live concerts, as well as two albums that didn't chart. She also recorded a sleek, electro-pop take on the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" on Music Of Quality & Distinction, Volume One, an album released by Heaven 17 members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh under the name B.E.F.

The year 1984 would be pivotal for Turner. She dueted with David Bowie on the reggae-influenced title track of his Tonight LP, and finally achieved widespread mainstream success on her own thanks to the blockbuster Private Dancer. As with "Ball of Confusion," the album embraced the decade's slicker, cutting-edge production values — in fact, two songs were co-produced by Ware — while still highlighting Turner's muscular voice and eclectic influences.

The album's tracklisting included the Mark Knopfler-penned title track, as well as covers of tunes by David Bowie ("1984"), the Beatles ("Help!"), and Ann Peebles ("I Can't Stand the Rain"). Private Dancer also featured her first and only solo No. 1 hit, the vulnerable and luxurious "What's Love Got to Do With It." The single, which also won Grammy Awards for record of the year and best female pop vocal performance, boasted a cathartic, lived-in vocal performance that ushered in her sophisticated second act and cemented her reputation as a survivor, a tag and aesthetic she embraced.

Turner's commercial renaissance continued as the decade progressed. She co-starred in the 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, which spawned the dramatic power ballad "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" and the Grammy-winning "One of the Living," and racked up more hits with the Bryan Adams duet "It's Only Love," breezy seduction "Typical Male," and the empowerment anthem "The Best." With her spiky wig and power miniskirts that showed off her legendary legs, Turner also became an early MTV icon: She performed at the first-ever MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, and won best female video the following year for "What's Love Got to Do With It."

Turner continued to be a commercial force into the '90s, notably thanks to the 1993 biopic, What's Love Got to Do With It. Based on her 1986 autobiography, I, Tina, the movie starred Laurence Fishburne as Ike and Angela Bassett as Tina. Both actors were nominated for Oscars, while Bassett won a Golden Globe for best performance by an actress in a comedy or musical. Turner herself also received a career boost, as the soundtrack song "I Don't Wanna Fight" became a worldwide hit, cracking the top 10 in the U.S. In 1995, she landed another prestigious honor, singing the slinky, elegant James Bond theme song "GoldenEye" for the titular film.

Turner, who moved to Switzerland in 1995, started easing up on her workload in the late '90s and '00s, and ended up retiring after a 50th anniversary tour in 2009. However, she was still an active steward of her own legacy; in fact she also worked closely on the development of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which opened on Broadway in fall 2019. And at the 2008 Grammy Awards, she performed a showstopping version of "Proud Mary" with Beyoncé. With hindsight, it's easy to interpret the moment as Turner passing the torch to a younger musician. However, the performance also once again reaffirmed that she was squarely in control of her rich musical legacy.

Source: https://www.npr.org/

[bluemarinedoll]

[sapphicute]

mahalia icons.

[boxycons]

like or reblog

[eptodaytommorowforever]

Elvis Presley And The Black Community.

Elvis Presley The ICon The Legend Of The 20th Century Meets Here The Queen Of Gospel Herself Mahalia Jackson In This Rare B/W Candid Photo Unseen Till Now At The Universal Studios In Hollywood On The Set Of Is 1969 Movie A Change Of Habit.

[milkandheavysugar]

Mahalia Jackson singing alongside composer, pianist and bandleader of a jazz orchestra, Duke Ellington at Newport Jazz Festival, Rhode Island, July 1958.

[mamapriest]

ST. LOUIS BLUES

(1958 Paramount) Starring Nat “King” Cole, Eartha Kitt, Mahalia Jackson, Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey, Ruby Dee, Juano Hernandez, Billy Preston and Ella Fitzgerald. Directed by Allen Reisner.

Source: IMBd.com

1958 movie poster for "St. Louis Blues"

In what would be his only lead in a feature, legendary crooner Nat “King” Cole plays legendary songwriter W.C. "Will" Handy. 

ST. LOUIS BLUES boasts perhaps the largest cast of music legends ever assembled for one dramatic film, and we aren’t talking cameo roles here (as in, say, THE BLUES BROTHERS). While Cole is a bit wooden at times, this fits the film’s presentation of Handy as a reserved man who grew up under a dominating and strict father. 

Pearl Bailey, circa 1955.

Pearl Bailey sings a few lines of the title song (sadly, she doesn't finish it) and has a plum role as Handy’s verbose and understanding Aunt Hagar. Cab Calloway surprisingly doesn't have a song, but he is solid as always dramatically as the shady owner of the Rooster.

Cab Calloway

The real standout here is Eartha Kitt, in probably her best screen performance with the best-written role in this uneven script. Kitt’s Gogo Germaine is an assertive diva who dresses provocatively, but avoids all the bad girl stereotypes we expect.

Kitt was never sexier, and while she had a tendency to overact in some of her later roles, she hits just the right note here from start to finish. She’s also given the script's most memorable lines when confronting Reverend Handy on his prejudice in a wonderfully delivered speech.

The film’s musical performances (with a bit of drama) are provided by Mahalia Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald (playing herself), and such notable jazz musicians as the clarinetist Barney Bigard and the drummer Lee Young.

Mahalia Jackson drives her car in Chicago, circa 1954. (Andrew Pavlin/Chicago Tribune)

Ella Fitzgerald

Above all, the movie absurdly suggests that relations between Black and white people in turn-of-the-century Memphis were pleasant and untroubled—yet it also tries to skirt this fabrication by keeping its depiction of those relations to a minimum. The few white characters in the film pop in for a line or two, fulfill their functions in the plot, and are never seen again. 

The night club where Gogo, Will, and his band perform is owned by a Black man named Blade (Calloway), who is indeed a sharp businessman (and he exploits Will no less than any white manipulator); all of the club’s customers, meanwhile, are white and inconsequential; they’re all extras—basically human wallpaper.

Nat King Cole and Ruby Dee sit on the set of "St. Louis Blues" (1958).

Scene from the movie "St. Louis Blues'' with Eartha Kitt and Nat King Cole.

Sources: IMDb.com

thehornsection.com

thenewyorker.com

[lboogie1906]

Ledisi Anibade Young (born March 28, 1972) known as Ledisi, is an R&B and jazz recording artist, songwriter, music producer, author, and actress. She formed a band. She formed LeSun Records with Sundra Manning. They released her debut album entitled Soulsinger featuring the song "Take Time". She re-released Soulsinger: The Revival, and she released her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, which won "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards. She released her third album, titled Lost & Found, it sold almost 217,000 copies and earned her two Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist. She released her Christmas album, It's Christmas. She released her fourth album Turn Me Loose, which earned her two Grammy nominations, followed by her fifth album Pieces of Me, which debuted on the US Billboard 200 album chart at #8, becoming the first top-ten album of her career and her highest-charting album to date. It garnered three Grammy nominations at the 54th Grammy Awards including for Best R&B Album. She received a nomination for Best R&B Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards for her collaboration for the album cut "Gonna Be Alright" from his fifth album Black Radio. She released her sixth album The Truth, followed by albums Let Love Rule, The Wild Card, and Ledisi Sings Nina, all of which have earned varying degrees of chart success and multiple Grammy Award nominations. She has released eleven studio albums and earned fourteen Grammy Award nominations to date, winning her first for Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Anything For You". She has embarked on a career in film and television as an actress. She portrayed gospel icon Mahalia Jackson in the films Selma and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story. Other roles include Patti LaBelle in American Soul, a cameo appearance as a choir member in Pose, as well as Gladys Knight in Spinning Gold. She is set to star in All Saints Christmas. She was born in New Orleans and was raised in Oakland. She earned a scholarship to study opera and piano for five years at UC Berkeley in their Young Musicians Program. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #deltasigmatheta #womenhistorymonth https://www.instagram.com/p/CqVpvzCLyPC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=