October 7, 1988 William Boone “Billy” Daniels, vocalist and Broadway actor, died. Daniels was born September 12, 1915 in Jacksonville, Florida. Daniels was a nightclub entertainer and was the biggest cabaret draw in New York City during the 1950s. He was also popular in Europe and in 1952 headlined at The London Palladium and broke […]
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September 29th in African American History – Gloria Foster
September 29, 2001 Gloria Foster, stage and film actress, died. Foster was born November 15, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. She made her Broadway debut in 1961 in “A Raisin in the Sun.” In 1963, she won her first Obie Award (Off-Broadway Theater Award) for her performance in “In White America.” In 1965, she won her […]
September 23rd in African American History – George Costello Wolfe
September 23, 1954 George Costello Wolfe, playwright and director of theater and films, was born in Frankfort, Kentucky. Wolfe earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Pomona College and then taught for several years in Los Angeles and New York where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts from New York University in 1983. […]
September 17th in African American History – The Flip Wilson Show
September 17, 1970 “The Flip Wilson Show,” a variety show, premiered on NBC. It was the first prime time variety show starring an African American male since the “Nat King Cole Show” in 1957. It was also the first television program starring a Black person to become highly successful with a White audience.
September 13th in African American History – Emmitt Perry, Jr. (Tyler Perry)
September 13, 1969 Emmitt Perry, Jr. (Tyler Perry), writer, director, producer and entrepreneur, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the age of 16, Perry had his first name legally changed to Tyler. Perry did not graduate from high school, but did earn his GED. Around 1990, he moved to Atlanta and two years later […]
September 12th in African American History – Jennifer Kate Hudson
September 12, 1981 Jennifer Kate Hudson, recording artist and actress, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Hudson got her start in performing at the age of seven singing in the church choir. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalist on the television show, “American Idol”. In 2006, she made her film debut […]
September 11th in African American History – Taraji Penda Henson
September 11, 1970 Taraji Penda Henson, actress and singer, was born in Washington, D. C. Henson earned a degree in Theater Arts in 1995 from Howard University. She made her film debut “Baby Boy” (2001) and also has appeared in “Hustle & Flow” (2005), “Four Brothers” (2006), and “Talk to Me” (2007). In 2008, Henson […]