Black History Month Day 4 : Dorothy Dandridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November 9, 1922 – September 8, 1965) was an African-American film and theatre actress, singer and dancer. She is perhaps best known for being the first black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1954 filmCarmen Jones. Dandridge performed as a vocalist in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater. During her early career, she performed as a part of The Wonder Children, later The Dandridge Sisters and appeared in a succession of films, usually in uncredited roles. In 1959, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Porgy and Bess. She is the subject of the 1999 HBO biographical film, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. She has been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Dandridge was married and divorced twice, first to dancer Harold Nicholas (the father of her daughter, Harolyn Suzanne) and then to hotel owner Jack Denison. Dandridge died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 42.

Comments

Perry Blackwell

I love the 1959 movie "Pillow Talk" which starred Doris Day and Rock Hudson.
One of the reasons why it's in my top movie selection is because of the Singer/Actress Perry Blackwell.
She only had one scene in the movie and she sang for most of that scene, but what she did with her expressions and mannerisms spoke much much more. She was also in the 1960 movie "Dead Ringer" with Bette Davis and Karl Malden. There is not much info on her available, but I did discover via a message written by her daughter, that she is a classically trained Pianist and self taught organist.
She played Hammond Organ for years. Also she played with Sonny Stitt, Wes Montgomery Bros. , Roy Milton and Louis Jordan.
She worked many gigs around such people as Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Joe Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie Wilson and Red Foxx.
She worked on the New York jazz scence for a few years, Best known for her 7 year stint at The Parisian Room in Los Ange…

The Talk (Full Length)

Black History Month Day2: Viola Davis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Viola Davis(born August 11, 1965) is anAmericanactress. Beginning her career on the stage, Davis won aTonyand aDrama Desk Awardfor her role inAugust Wilson'sKing Hedley II(2001). She won a second Drama Desk Award forIntimate Apparel(2004), followed by a second Tony and a third Drama Desk Award for her role inFences(2010). Davis has played supporting roles in several films, including Traffic (2000), Solaris (2002), Knight and Day (2010) and Ender's Game (2013). Her eleven-minute-long performance in Doubt (2008), and adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's play earned her several honors, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture nomination. Her leading role in the film The Help (2010) garnered her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress nomination and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama, among others. Beginning in 201…

Son of Ellis

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