Admin Why is Ethel Waters important?
Ethel Waters (1896–1977) was a blues singer and actress who was the first African American to star in her own television show and to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
Was Ethel Waters Lgbtq?
Waters lived with her romantic partner Ethel Williams during the 1920s. Her performances and music garnered a large lesbian and gay following. She does not appear to have ever spoken publicly about her sexuality. Waters became one of the highest paid actresses on Broadway, independent of her race.
What impact did Ethel Waters have on society?
She was the first singer to confront racism in a popular song (“Suppertime”) in 1933, the same year she introduced “Stormy Weather” at the Cotton Club. Waters was the first black woman to receive equal billing with white stars on Broadway.
What age did Ethel Waters get married?
13
Waters married at the age of 13, but her husband was abusive, and she soon left the marriage and became a maid in a Philadelphia hotel, working for $4.75 per week. On her 17th birthday, she attended a costume party at a nightclub on Juniper Street.
Who was Ethel Waters inspired by?
She prioritized clear enunciation and used her soft, yet full-bodied voice to change the presentation of jazz music in the 1920s and 30s. Her appearance in the 1927 Broadway musical “Africana” caused her to be scouted by composer and songwriter Irving Berlin.
Why did Ethel Waters come to Harlem?
Waters moved to Harlem in 1919, getting her first job at Edmond’s Cellar, a club that specialized in popular ballads. When she arrived in Harlem, female blues singers were becoming more and more powerful. In 1924, Paramount bought Black Swan and Waters stayed for the year.
How did Ethel Waters become famous?
In 1950, Ethel Waters was the first black American performer to star in her own regular television show, Beulah, but it was the 1961 role in the “Good Night, Sweet Blues” episode of the television series Route 66 that earned her an Emmy award. She was the first black so honored.