Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: Pearl Bailey

Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: 

Pearl Bailey

In my big gay church, there is a special wing dedicated to and occupied by The Ladies of the Theatre. This is a special breed of diva, with voices as large as their hearts. They have dedicated their lives to their art, sacrificing much in order to bring audiences to their feet, night after night. You can trust them to always find their light and not only will the show go on... but that curtain will rise on time.

One such diva?

Pearl Bailey

Everybody loved Pearl.

She even served as The Ambassador of Love for the United Nations.

She called Joan Crawford her sister and prevented Maya Angelou from being her understudy!

It all began when her brother, Bill Bailey, urged her to enter a talent contest. She won! Which led her to the Apollo, where, again, she won. 

She made her stage debut in St. Louis Woman and toured throughout the country and with the USO in a popular nightclub act.

An early song, It Takes Two To Tango, gave her a Top 10 hit.

She married several times, finally finding the right one. His parents didn't approve, but love won out in the end. The two remained married until Pearl's death; the couple celebrating a blissful 38 years. 

Variety and talk shows adored her. She was a frequent guest on The Ed Sullivan Show, among many others.

Her biggest success came in the form of a production of Hello, Dolly with an all-black cast - an effort for which she'd receive a special Tony Award.

An avid cook, she'd go on to publish a cookbook, which she touted during her many talk show appearances. 

In the end? She's remembered as an American treasure, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1988. 

The gospel according to her? 

Well, here are three from the hip, dropping from her lips.

The topic: Pearls of wisdom!

"A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive."

"I hate labels, and I wear no labels. When a man has to put something around his neck and say I am, he isn't."

"A crown, if it hurts us, is not worth wearing."

"No one can figure out your worth but you."

"When you're young, the silliest notions seem the greatest achievements." 

"There's a period of life when we swallow a knowledge of ourselves and it becomes either good or sour inside."

"Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but always be certain that a wider one is still possible."

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"We look into mirrors but we only see the effects of our times on us - not our effects on others."

"There is a way to look at the past. Don't hide from it. It will not catch you if you don't repeat it."

Two To Tango - Pearl Bailey and Bill Bailey

Beat Out Dat Rhythm On a Drum - Pearl Bailey

from the motion picture, Carmen Jones

Before The Parade Passes By - Pearl Bailey

from the musical, Hello, Dolly!

And one last parting shot...

"What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork."