Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, –August 17, ) was an American singer and actress. She is probably most remembered for her role as matchmaker "Dolly Gallagher Levi" in David Merrick's production of Hello Dolly!—a part first created on Broadway by Carol Channing. The all-black version of Hello, Dolly! played on Broadway from to , and garnered Bailey the theater's highest honor, the Tony Award. Bailey’s career spanned nearly fifty years in all forms of entertainment from Vaudeville to Broadway to Cinema. Her unique delivery, which included ad-libbing and bantering back and forth with the audience, added to her personability and charisma. Throughout her life she performed with her husband, jazz drummer Louie Bellson and other notable musicians such as Louis Armstrong on USO tours that entertained troops overseas. She was appointed an “ambassador of love” by President Richard Nixon in , and went on to serve as a special ambassador to the United Nations through three more presidential administrations. In , President Ronald Reagan awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. .
Childhood and
Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey was born on March 29, , in Newport News, Virginia, USA. Her parents were Ella Mae and Joseph Bailey.
Education
Around , Pearl Bailey returned to school. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in theology in
Theater Acting Career
Pearl Bailey first began acting on Broadway in the mid’s. Her first Broadway role was as a Butterfly in St. Louis Woman in She then went on to act in the place Inside USA in In the ’s, Bailey performed in several more Broadway productions, including Arms and the Girl, Bless You All, and House of Flowers.
In the ’s, Bailey’s theater career was not very productive. However, she did appear in an off-Broadway production of Les Poupees De Paris and Call me Madam.
In the ’s, Pearl Bailey would go on to perform in one of her most famous roles as Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi in a Broadway production of Hello, Dolly!
Television And Film Career
Pearl Bailey appeared in her first film, Isn’t It Romantic, in Before this, she was already an established stage actress, so it did not take long for her screen acting career to kick off. Bailey’s next fi
Pearl Mae Bailey ()
Legendary entertainer Pearl Mae Bailey was born on March 29, in Southamption County, Virginia to Rev. Joseph and Ella Mae Bailey. She grew up in Newport News, Virginia. Bailey began her acting and singing career early at the age of 15 with her debut performance at an amateur contest at Philadelphia’s Pearl Theater. Encouraged to enter the contest by her older brother, Bill Bailey, an aspiring tap dancer, Pearl Bailey won first prize in the competition.
After winning a similar contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Bailey decided to start performing as a professional. In the s she took jobs singing and dancing in Philadelphia’s black nightclubs. After the start of World War II, Bailey decided to tour the country with the USO where she performed for US troops. The USO performances spread her name and reputation across the country.
After the war ended Bailey moved to New York. She continued to perform in nightclubs but she also garnered a recording contract and now went on tour to promote her music. Her recording, “Takes Two to Tango,” was one of the top songs of the year. In Bailey made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman where she played the role of
Pearl Bailey ( - )
Biography
The daughter of a Pentecostal preacher, Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, –August 17, ) began singing at age three with the choir at her father's church in Newport News. Her introduction to show business occurred at age fifteen when she won an amateur talent contest in Philadelphia. Early in the s she traveled the vaudeville circuit and during World War II she toured with the USO. A brief tour with the Cab Calloway Orchestra enhanced Bailey's visibility as a performer and in she made her Broadway debut in the musical St. Louis Woman. After appearing in her first film, Variety Girl (), she embarked on a recording career, scoring hits with "Takes Two to Tango" () and "Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye" ().
A captivating performer who described herself as a humorist, Bailey continued to perform in the United States and abroad as well as appear in movies and plays. During the s she also began appearing regularly on television, including Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, the Nat King Cole Show, and the Perry Como Show. At the end of the decade Bailey portrayed Maria in the film version of George Gershwin's classic American folk opera Porgy and Bess
Biographies you may also like
Alfred adler childhood biography Alfred Adler was a pioneering figure in psychology, known for establishing individual psychology and introducing key concepts such as "inferiority feeling" and "striving for superiority." His.
Pastor mcclendon biography Bishop Clarence McClendon is an American gospel artist. He is also the pastor of Full Harvest International Church in Los Angeles, California. Additionally, he serves as the .
Philippa levine biography of rory Philippa Levine is the Mary Helen Thompson Centennial Professor in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin. Her books include Prostitution, Race and Missing: rory.
Luly yang biography channel Luly Yang’s fashion career began after designing her now famous Monarch Dress. Her couture evening and bridal designs quickly captured the imagination of the Northwest which led to the .
Danit peleg biography samples As the first 3D printed fashion collection printed entirely using home printers, Danit Peleg has shown us that it is possible to push the envelope when it comes to 3D printing. It is Missing: biography.
Pavarotti luciano biography Luciano Pavarotti, born on October 12, , in Modena, Italy, was a legendary tenor whose remarkable voice and dynamic performances captivated audiences worldwide. .
Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey was born on March 29, , in Newport News, Virginia, USA. Her parents were Ella Mae and Joseph Bailey.
Education
Around , Pearl Bailey returned to school. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in theology in
Theater Acting Career
Pearl Bailey first began acting on Broadway in the mid’s. Her first Broadway role was as a Butterfly in St. Louis Woman in She then went on to act in the place Inside USA in In the ’s, Bailey performed in several more Broadway productions, including Arms and the Girl, Bless You All, and House of Flowers.
In the ’s, Bailey’s theater career was not very productive. However, she did appear in an off-Broadway production of Les Poupees De Paris and Call me Madam.
In the ’s, Pearl Bailey would go on to perform in one of her most famous roles as Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi in a Broadway production of Hello, Dolly!
Television And Film Career
Pearl Bailey appeared in her first film, Isn’t It Romantic, in Before this, she was already an established stage actress, so it did not take long for her screen acting career to kick off. Bailey’s next fi
Pearl Mae Bailey ()
Legendary entertainer Pearl Mae Bailey was born on March 29, in Southamption County, Virginia to Rev. Joseph and Ella Mae Bailey. She grew up in Newport News, Virginia. Bailey began her acting and singing career early at the age of 15 with her debut performance at an amateur contest at Philadelphia’s Pearl Theater. Encouraged to enter the contest by her older brother, Bill Bailey, an aspiring tap dancer, Pearl Bailey won first prize in the competition.
After winning a similar contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Bailey decided to start performing as a professional. In the s she took jobs singing and dancing in Philadelphia’s black nightclubs. After the start of World War II, Bailey decided to tour the country with the USO where she performed for US troops. The USO performances spread her name and reputation across the country.
After the war ended Bailey moved to New York. She continued to perform in nightclubs but she also garnered a recording contract and now went on tour to promote her music. Her recording, “Takes Two to Tango,” was one of the top songs of the year. In Bailey made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman where she played the role of
Pearl Bailey ( - )
Biography
The daughter of a Pentecostal preacher, Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, –August 17, ) began singing at age three with the choir at her father's church in Newport News. Her introduction to show business occurred at age fifteen when she won an amateur talent contest in Philadelphia. Early in the s she traveled the vaudeville circuit and during World War II she toured with the USO. A brief tour with the Cab Calloway Orchestra enhanced Bailey's visibility as a performer and in she made her Broadway debut in the musical St. Louis Woman. After appearing in her first film, Variety Girl (), she embarked on a recording career, scoring hits with "Takes Two to Tango" () and "Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye" ().
A captivating performer who described herself as a humorist, Bailey continued to perform in the United States and abroad as well as appear in movies and plays. During the s she also began appearing regularly on television, including Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, the Nat King Cole Show, and the Perry Como Show. At the end of the decade Bailey portrayed Maria in the film version of George Gershwin's classic American folk opera Porgy and Bess
Biographies you may also like
Alfred adler childhood biography Alfred Adler was a pioneering figure in psychology, known for establishing individual psychology and introducing key concepts such as "inferiority feeling" and "striving for superiority." His.
Pastor mcclendon biography Bishop Clarence McClendon is an American gospel artist. He is also the pastor of Full Harvest International Church in Los Angeles, California. Additionally, he serves as the .
Philippa levine biography of rory Philippa Levine is the Mary Helen Thompson Centennial Professor in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin. Her books include Prostitution, Race and Missing: rory.
Luly yang biography channel Luly Yang’s fashion career began after designing her now famous Monarch Dress. Her couture evening and bridal designs quickly captured the imagination of the Northwest which led to the .
Danit peleg biography samples As the first 3D printed fashion collection printed entirely using home printers, Danit Peleg has shown us that it is possible to push the envelope when it comes to 3D printing. It is Missing: biography.
Pavarotti luciano biography Luciano Pavarotti, born on October 12, , in Modena, Italy, was a legendary tenor whose remarkable voice and dynamic performances captivated audiences worldwide. .