Who is Pearl Bailey?
As one of the most loved figures on the American stage, screen, and concert hall, Pearl Bailey offered entertainment to persons of all ages and backgrounds during a long and distinguished career. Here is some background on Pearl Mae Bailey, and the impact she made during her life. Born in 1918, Pearl Bailey grew up in rural Virginia. As the daughter of a minister, Bailey sang in church choirs and at local events. She was later to remark that the support she received during her early years helped to make the focus of her life’s work very easy to discover. Beginning as a vaudeville performer and eventually finding steady gigs in nightclubs, Pearl Bailey quickly demonstrated that her talent was a broad as her smile. By 1946, she had made her debut on Broadway, appearing in St. Louis Woman. Six years later, she scored a Top Ten vocal hit with a song entitled “Takes Two to Tango.” The movie studios were soon calling, and Pearl Bailey accepted the role of Frankie in the film version of Carme
