February 15, 1965 Nat King Cole, jazz pianist and singer, died. Cole was born Nathaniel Adam Coles on March 17, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. He began performing in the 1930s with the King Cole Trio and in 1943 they signed with Capitol Records.
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February 14th in African American History – Frederick Douglass
February 14, 1818 Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, women’s suffragist, editor, author, and statesman, was born enslaved in Tuckahoe, Maryland. Douglass taught himself to read and write and in 1838 escaped from slavery. He delivered his first abolitionist speech at the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society’s annual convention in 1841.
February 14th in African American History – Gregory Oliver Hines
February 14, 1946 Gregory Oliver Hines, dancer, choreographer and actor, was born in New York City. Hines started dancing at an early age and together with his brother and father eventually became known as Hines, Hines and Dad.
February 14th in African American History – Monetta J. Sleet, Jr.
February 14, 1926 Monetta J. Sleet, Jr., photographer and the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism, was born in Owensboro, Kentucky. Sleet served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Kentucky State University in 1947 and his Master of […]
February 13th in African American History – Edward Gay Robinson
February 13, 1919 Edward Gay Robinson, hall of fame football coach, was born in Jackson, Louisiana. Robinson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Leland College in 1941 and in 1954 earned his Master of Arts degree from the University of Iowa.
February 13th in African American History – Malvin Russell Goode
February 13, 1908 Malvin Russell Goode, the first African American television news correspondent, was born in White Plains, Virginia. Goode earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and later worked as a boys work director at the YMCA.
February 12th in African American History – Roberta Martin
February 12, 1907 Roberta Martin, gospel singer, composer, and choral organizer, was born in Helena, Arkansas, but raised in Chicago, Illinois. In 1933, Martin co-founded the Martin-Frye Quartet. In 1936, the group was renamed the Roberta Martin Singers and they set the standard for gospel choirs, recording such hits as “Only A Look” (1949) and […]