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Pearl Bailey, a renowned cabaret singer and actress, dies of an apparent heart attack in Philadelphia.
1990 (Aug 17)
Pearl Bailey, a renowned cabaret singer and actress, died of an apparent heart attack in Philadelphia, where she was recovering from knee surgery. She was seventy-two. Bailey, who had a history of heart ailments, collapsed in her home and was rushed to Thomas Jefferson Hospital where she died. She was buried in Rolling Meadow, in suburban West Chester, Pennsylvania. Bailey was born on March 29, 1918, in Newport News, Virginia, of Black and Creek Indian ancestry. She began her professional career in vaudeville. Her greatest triumph came when she starred with Cab Calloway in the all Black version of the Broadway hit "Hello Dolly.” Bailey's success came partly because she adeptly used her talent to transcend the racial stereotypes that hindered many other Black performers of her time. She went on to become a legend known as the “Ambassador of Love." An entertainer noted for her distinctive style, she often punctuated her performances with mischievous witticisms. "If I just sang a song, it would mean nothing,” she once said.
References:
- • Hornsby, Alton. Chronology of African-American History: Significant Events and People from 1619 to the Present. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.