- published: 19 Sep 2007
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Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American actress and singer. After appearing in vaudeville, she made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. She won a Tony Award for the title role in the all-black production of Hello, Dolly! in 1968. In 1986, she won a Daytime Emmy award for her performance as a fairy godmother in the ABC Afterschool Special, Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale.
Her rendition of "Takes Two to Tango" hit the top ten in 1952.
Bailey was born in Southampton County in southeastern Virginia, to the Reverend Joseph and Ella Mae Ricks Bailey. She was reared in the Bloodfields neighborhood of Newport News, Virginia.
She made her stage-singing debut when she was 15 years old. Her brother Bill Bailey was beginning his own career as a tap dancer, and suggested she enter an amateur contest at Philadelphia’s Pearl Theater. She entered, won first prize, later won a similar contest at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, and decided to pursue a career in entertainment.
Mack The Knife-Dinah Shore & Pearl Bailey Sing
Ethel Waters duet with Pearl Bailey
Hello Dolly! Pearl Bailey 1968 Tony Awards
ANDY WILLIAMS PEARL BAILEY
Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald & Sarah Vaughan-1979
Pearl Bailey - Little Green Apples
Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey -- Big Spender
Lauren Bacall, Pearl Bailey, Barbara Walters, 1979 TV, Hello, Dolly!
What's My Line? - Pearl Bailey; PANEL: Allen Ludden, Betty White (Aug 28, 1966)
Pearl Bailey - St. Louis Blues
Pearl Bailey (singer/comedienne) 1960