Bailey, Pearl (1918–1990)

BAILEY, PEARL (1918–1990). Singer, actress. Pearl Bailey’s unconcerned style and informal rapport with an audience made her an endearing and respected entertainer. After singing in small clubs in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D. C., her career took off when she became the vocalist for the Cootie Williams Band, which led to a stint with Count Basie. In the early 1940s, Bailey played the Village Vanguard and the Blue Angel Club in New York, before touring with the U. S. O. during World War II. She received the Donaldson Award, in 1946, as that year’s most promising new performer for her stage debut in St. Louis Woman . She was called to Hollywood in 1954 to appear as Frankie in the movie Carmen Jones , 1954, with Dorothy Dandridge. That same year, she starred in the Broadway musical House of Flowers . Miss Bailey has made countless television appearances and headlined at the country’s leading nightspots. Her hit recordings include “Two to Tango,” “Tired,” “Row, Row, Row,” and the title song to the movie Variety Girl , 1947. She retired after a 1975 all-black revival run of Hello, Dolly . She was appointed U. S. representative to the United Nations.

Filmography: Carmen Jones , 1954; Norman, Is That You? 1976; The Fox and the Hound , 1981; The Member of the Wedding , 1983; Peter Gunn , 1989.