Although she was a talented singer and pianist, her lyricism and queer presentation truly made her stand out. Lila Gladys Young was a Canadian woman who operated The Ideal Maternity Home, a discreet residence for unwed pregnant mothers in Nova Scotia between 1928 and 1947. . Not only did her own time not know what to do with her, but Bentleys impact is also still a hot topic now. In many ways, Bentley never stopped trying to be in the spotlight, even as her audiences waned and the world changed around her. Although Catherine's successor Queen Anne Boleyn suffered an infamously dark fate, Aragon's own life was somehow even more tragic. Try again later. She's been a special interest of mine for quite some time, and in the 1920's and 30's she was especially prominent. Thing is, Bentley didnt keep her private life private, not by a long shot. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. "Goodbye, darling. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. While Wilson says there is no record of that union taking place, the story is still a glimpse into Bentleys unapologetic openness about her sexual orientation, and her acute understanding of the power of shock value. Weve updated the security on the site. For Hoedel, any such claims are just baseless "romanticism." Fictional characters based on Bentley appeared in Carl Van Vechten's novel Parties, Clement Woods' novel Deep River, and Blair Niles' novel Strange Brother. When Gladys died in 1958, newspapers around the world gave her age as 42, when she was really 46. In an effort to describe her supposed "cure" for homosexuality she wrote an essay, "I Am a Woman Again," for Ebony magazine in which she stated she had undergone an operation, which "helped change her life again. She died of pneumonia in 1960, aged 52. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. I think not only of the performative side but that Bentley was a working woman, says Reece, who described a letter in the collection which shows that Bentley reprimanded a club owner who failed to pay her. In the 1920s, speakeasies ruled New York City, and Gladys Bentley ruled the speakeasies. She knew what was popular, what she could do, and what people would pay to see, he says. Advertising Notice Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA. She kept on performing, but in womens clothing. On top of that, the news got out in a sensational way. My hands fairly flew over the keys. She dressed in men's clothes (including a signature tuxedo and top hat), played piano, and sang her own raunchy lyrics to popular tunes of the day in a deep, growling voice while flirting with women in the audience. Okeh Race Records released eight singles of her music between 1928 and 1929. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. I wore immaculate full white dress shirts with stiff collars, small bow ties and shirts, oxfords, short Eton jackets and hair cut straight back.. Gladys Bentley knew how to live life to the fullest, and with her large, bodacious build and flashy sense of style, she had no problem getting women to fall into bed with her. She was 96. Gladys Bentleywas born circa 1909. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. 01/18/1960 . Elvis had an emergency opportunity to visit her, but she did not make it. In 1934, a midtown Manhattan nightclub called Kings Terrace was padlocked by the police after an observer complained of the dirty songs performed there. William Young died of cancer just before Christmas, 1962 . Rustin's sexuality was a cause for debate by others in the movement, but toward the end of his life, he began to openly fight for queer causes. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? That year, she claimed that she married an unknown woman in a civil ceremony in Atlantic City, a practically unheard-of move. For the Smithsonians Sidedoor podcast, host Haleema Shah tells the story of an unapologetically gay African-American performer in 1920s and 30s. Her beginnings werent humble, though; they were scandalous. Gladys Bentley Death: and Cause of Death On January 18, 1960, Gladys Bentley died of non-communicable disease. "She was always my best girl." Yet in California, Bentley only got into some silver screen drama. Try again. Get the latest updates and more delivered straight to your inbox. There may be one final bizarre touch to the already strange life of Gladys Bentley. ", Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use). Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. It's up there with being a communist, Wilson says. Although Bentley used feminine pronouns in her public life, some experts believe she would have been a transgender man today, while others insist she only played with gender expectations and never tried to pass as a man. Bentley's performances appealed to black, white, gay, and straight audiences alike, and many celebrities attended her shows. Instead, she exerted a 'black female masculinity' that troubled the distinctions between black and white and masculine and feminine".[25]. 0 references. Lets just, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Pitiless Facts About Jacques Damala, History's Worst Boyfriend, Startling Facts About Jackie Coogan, The Tragic Child Superstar, Hard-Earned Facts About Pedro Pascal, The Unlikely Star, Tormented Facts About Edvard Munch, The Man Behind The Scream. She sang her In the end, the booming, bodacious, and vivacious singer succumbed to the relatively common ailment of pneumonia, which came on quickly and didnt let her go. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. She's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet, " they said. In Bentleys account of her life, her audience was as fascinated by her style as it was by her music. Gladys became severely ill in August 1958 due to undiagnosed hepatitis, brought on by alcoholism, while Elvis was serving in US Army in Germany; he . [1] [2] [24] It was initially believed to be the "Asian flu" but later turned into "pneumonia". In her music, she called out men and openly sang about sexual relationships which was seen as risqu behavior at the time. Haleema Shah is the host and associate producer for the Smithsonian's "Sidedoor" podcast, and a journalist who believes in using audio to enable audiences to delve deep into the ideas that shape our world. Gladys Knight and the Pips Singer Dies at Age 74 | Essence William Guest passed away on Christmas Eve from congestive heart failure. Gladys Love Smith parents Bob and Dolly Smith . Performing in a signature white top hat, tuxedo and tails, Bentley sang raunchy songs laced with double-entendres that thrilled and scandalized her audiences. Gladys Bentley (1907-60) Michael Ochs Archives . The rumored marriage had all the makings of an early 20th-century scandalBentley claimed that not only was it a same-sex civil ceremony, but that the union was between herself and a white woman. Bentley made her spectacular debut on the Great White Way in 1933until it turned into an utter disaster. Roberts later denied that they had ever married. Photograph of Gladys Bentley by an unidentified photographer, 1927-45. As times progressed and federal laws continued to change, there became a point where Bentley had to carry special permits to allow her to perform in men's clothing. [12] Bentley was known for taking popular songs and putting a promiscuous spin on them. Heck, I volunteer as tribute. Gladys fell seriously ill just a few months after Elvis enlisted in the US Army. Gladys Bentley, one of the most flamboyant blues entertainers of the 20th century, began performing in New York City as a singer and male impersonator. This browser does not support getting your location. He was inconsolable as he sank to his knees beside his mother's bed. Haleema Shah Bentley had great talent as a piano player, singer, and entertainer. Visitation . She mostly sang in a deep, low range, but also reached high notes. Do you find this information helpful? On the decline of the Harlem speakeasies with the repeal of Prohibition, she relocated to southern California, where she was billed as "America's Greatest Sepia Piano Player" and the "Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs". Gladys Bentley was a triple threata singer, a dancer, and a lesbian. Upon hearing the news, Elvis immediately returned to the hospital. 1 reference. Langston Hughes recorded his reaction to the beginning of Bentley's career success: For two or three amazing years, Miss Bentley sat, and played piano all night long with scarcely a break between the notes, sliding from one song to another, with a powerful and continuous underbeat of jungle rhythm. Gladys Bentley had told the gossip columnist that she had just gotten married. Before long, Bentleys world got turned upside down again. Her success picked up again during World War II with the expansion of gay bars on the West Coast. Even as a teenage girl of 16, Bentley had grown into a headstrong young woman, and she was sick and tired of feeling rejected. As someone who wrote about feeling attracted to women and being comfortable in mens clothes from an early age, Bentley likely would have found more acceptance in a community that was home to other sexually-fluid entertainers like Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters. So Gladys Bentley abandoned that and seems to want to restart her career as a more traditional black woman performer., In 1952, Bentley wrote her life story in an article for Ebony magazine, entitled I Am A Woman Again. In the article, she described the life of a glamorous performer who silently struggled with herself. The cause of death is pending toxicology results from the Frankfort lab, said Mercer Coroner Sonny Ransdell. Elvis would go on to talk about his brother throughout his career, and as Peter Whitmer, author of the 1996 psychological biography The Inner Elvis explains (via the Billings Gazette), the singer's mother, Gladys Presley, always thought that Jesse's death was "the crucible that forged [Elvis'] 'destiny to do great things.'". The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. I like to believe that Gladys Bentley had her thumb on the pulse of the time. Thanks for your time! This account has been disabled. Gladys Bentley: 0: French: Gladys Bentley: chanteuse de blues amricaine: 0: Dutch: Gladys Bentley: Amerikaans zangeres (1907-1960) . Jealous of her immense success and the fact shed moved on from his club, Hansberry sued her, claiming she hadnt completed her contract with him. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. It wouldnt be long before she shot to fame. 4. Her vocal range was wide, as can be heard in her recordings. When she brought little Gladys home, she refused to nurse the girl, leaving Bentleys grandmother to raise the infant on a bottle for six months. From an early age, Bentley defied gender normative behaviors and femininity. Born in working-class Philadelphia, Bentley moved to New York City at the age of 18 at a time when gay and lesbian nightclubs began to emerge and the . All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. She was one of the most well-known and financially successful black women in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. The 1950s were even more conservative than the early part of the 20th century. But its more complicated than all that. Gladys died of a heart attack and liver failure caused by excessive alcohol consumption. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. By the 1950s, Bentley was approaching middle age and the roaring 20s of her youth and the Harlem Renaissance community that flirted with modernism was now a thing of her past. According to Jim Wilson, author of the book Bulldaggers, Pansies, and Chocolate Babies: Performance, Race, and Sexuality in the Harlem Renaissance, Harlem was also a community that the police turned a blind eye to during the Prohibition Era. Failed to delete flower. cause of death. She then began performing at the Ubangi Club on Park Avenue, got an accompanist on piano, and was successful enough to own a "$300/month apartment in Park Ave. With servants and a nice car"[3] (although some have said that she was living in the penthouse of one of her lesbian lovers). Gladys was diagnosed with hepatitis shortly after, and her symptoms worsened significantly after that. Try again later. In later years, she participated in Titanic-related events after the wreckage was discovered. . Privacy Statement At the peak of her career, the singer was . Here are bawdy facts about Gladys Bentley. occupation. [1][2][24] It was initially believed to be the "Asian flu" but later turned into "pneumonia". Well, it backfired. Gladys Bentley Death: and Cause of Death On January 18, 1960, Gladys Bentley died of non-communicable disease. After a long climb, Bentley had finally made it to the topbut with stardom came scandal. At the time of her death, she had been more involved in the church and had just been ordained as a minister despite never getting her official paperwork. Then she proceeded to blow his mind. Get it, Gladys. Some even claimed that her infamous penthouse, complete with a coterie of servants and a car, actually belonged to one of Bentleys rich lesbian lovers. The report will reveal what was in Tewmey's system at the time of his . Miss Bentley was an amazing exhibition of musical energy a large, dark, masculine lady, whose feet pounded the floor while her fingers pounded the keyboard a perfect piece of African sculpture, animated by her own rhythm.[15]. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Gladys Bentley (1907-1960) was a blues pianist, singer, performer, and drag king pioneer. This is when she began performing in men's attire ("white full dress shirts, stiff collars, small bow ties, oxfords, short Eton jackets, and hair cut straight back"),[3] and here she perfected her act and became popular and successful. Bentley claimed that she and her white female lover went through a civil union in New Jersey. Just as Gladys Bentley was taking center-stage on Broadway, her old Clam House boss Harry Hansberry came out of the woodwork to ruin her life. She changed her stage name (briefly) to Barbara Bobbie Minton, and upgraded her clothing style to white full dress shirts, stiff collars, [and] small bow ties with a signature top hat. Some pearl-clutching patrons complained, and the citys response was swift and brutal. Bentley recalled dreaming and being infatuated with her primary school female teachers but did not understand those feelings until later on in her life. place of burial. But theres something very disturbing about this story. Bentley was openly lesbian early in her career, but during the McCarthy Era in the 1950s, she started wearing dresses and married (within five months of meeting) Charles Roberts, age 28, a cook, in a civil ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, in 1952. A large, masculine, Black womana "bulldagger," in the language of her dayshe was known for wearing a. Think this stopped Gladys Bentley? A system error has occurred. She was a big woman, about 250 to 300 pounds and wore . On August 14, 1958, Gladys Presley died at age 46. imported from Wikimedia project. 03.12.2019. Gladys Bentley, one of the most flamboyant blues entertainers of the 20th century, began performing in New York City as a singer and male impersonator. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? [13] In 1930 she recorded a side with the Washboard Serenaders for Victor,[14] and later recorded for the Excelsior, and Flame labels. Her performances at the Clam House attracted luminaries like poet Langston Hughes and the photographer Carl Van Vechten, who both sang her praises. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. As a performer, she was advertised by event promoters as a male impersonator, and she filled venues with loud, rowdy performances in which she would flirt with women in the audience. Oh, Bentley tried her best to make it workand it almost did. Not content with changing her outward appearance, in the 1950s Bentley began to change her insides as well, going to a doctor and beginning to take female hormones to overcome her more masculine traits. Mother of Elvis Presley. So maybe its no surprise that the lovebirds split up less than a year into their relationshipand more heartache was to come. She moved to speakeasies and night clubs in Jungle Alley, the center of Harlems sporting life. Gladys Bentley - Worried Blues (1928) Gladys Bentley and "Worried Blues," from 1928. Ergo, no charges. 3 references. Actress Lynda Baron, best known for her role as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in BBC TV sitcom Open All Hours, has died at the age of 82. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Heck no. Scholars who have studied Bentleys life said that the story Bentley told about being cured in the Ebony article was likely a response to the McCarthy Era and its hostile claims that homosexuality and communism were threats to the country. She tried to continue her musical career but did not achieve as much success as she had had in the past. musician. Once more, I ask: Did Gladys Bentley care? Her mother had desperately wanted a boy, and when the nurses told her she had a little girl instead, the matriarch refused to even touch her baby. The duo insisted that Bentley left them high and dry at the rise of the club and wanted to pursue other interests that she could financially benefit from. His autopsy was legally sealed for fifty years but, in. The headline sent shockwaves through America. Gladys Bentley joined New York's Harlem Renaissance jazz scene at age 16 and became an instant sensation and gender identity pioneer, performing piano and vocals at the most popular gay bars . When I had finished my first number, the burst of applause was terrific.. He was very close to his mother, which made her death that much more heartbreaking. For many years, I lived in a personal hell, she wrote. Her act drew white patrons from outside of Harlem, including writer and photographer Carl van Vechten, who based a fictional blues singer in one of his novels off of her, writing that when she pounds the piano the dawn comes up like thunder.. The article was accompanied by photos of Bentley wearing a matronly white housedress and performing the role of homemakerpreparing meals, making the bed for her husband, wearing a dress and flowers in her hair. Audience members started raving about her stage presence at the piano, so much so that the club even changed its name to Barbaras Exclusive Club to take the most advantage of Bentleys fame and notorietywhile they still could. As a child, Bentley developed tender feelings for a female teacher and was often sent home for going . Deeply concerned, Elvis was finally granted emergency leave after threatening to go AWOL on August 12. Instance Of Rank; Q3. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Yet the reality behind her death was far too simple, and far too tragic. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Like in many school districts today, Floyd County students are attending class remotely, due to forecasts of severe weather moving into the region. [11] She mostly played the blues and parodies of popular songs of the time: "mocking 'high' class imagery with 'low' class humor, she applied aspects of the sexually charged 'black' blues to demure, romantic 'white' ballads, creating a culture clash between these two music forms". Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Celebrity OTE - Spring Arts Guide Daniel Kaluuya Digital. 20072023 Blackpast.org. and experiment both sexually and socially.. Hansberry insisted that the club had been built around the popularity of Bentley's success and that he owned a five-year contract over Bentley and her raunchy songs. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. In Bentleys heyday of the 1930s, she owned a Park Avenue apartment with servants and other accoutrements of wealth. In her brief years, Bentley had seen America transform from a hedonistic party to a strait-laced society, and she came out the other side just as changed herself. In the late 1950s, Bentleys repentance for her star-studded sins took a turn towards God, and she got involved in her local Church and began studying to be a minister. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. "It broke my heart," Elvis Presley later said. Death rumors debunked. Though Gladys Bentley notes that her marriage to Don didnt work out, it still seems like something out of a fairy taleand perhaps its just as untrue as a fairy tale, too. "She was just defiant in who she was, and for gender and sexuality studies today, she shows the performance of . 3 references. Michael Bekoev. To her dying day, Gladys Bentley knew how to build a mystery. Failed to report flower. She was larger in size and preferred to wear her brother's suits instead of dresses or blouses. Just days before the Tampa Pro bodybuilding contest in 2017, Sean Harris fell asleep behind the wheel and died in a pretty tragic accident. He demanded she stop trying to perform on Broadway, and took his suit all the way up to the Supreme Court. A large, 250-pound woman, her deep voice appealed to straight, gay, black, and white audiences. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. . Gladys would soon become pregnant and . While performing at the Manhattan nightclub Kings Terrace, the masculine garbed smut-singing entertainer, as one audience member put it, quickly got the authorities to shut the whole place down with her performance. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. . Still, Bentley had bigger dreams on her mind. "Biblical Gender Bending in Harlem: The Queer Performance of Nugent's Salome. Looking back, this might have been a bad omen. . Your donation is fully tax-deductible. When she eventually left the Clam House for the swanky Ubangi Club on Park Avenue, she reportedly rented an extravagant penthouse apartment that would have raised her mothers eyebrows. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Nevertheless, losing Jesse still affected the King deeply. Gladyspassed away on month day1963, at age 54 at death place, Kentucky. On May 15, 1958, she appeared on Groucho Marxs quiz series You Bet Your Life, where she played piano and sang the jazz classic Them There Eyes. Little did anyone know, however, that Bentley didnt have much time left. Gladyslived at address, Kentucky. Her salary started at $35 per week plus tips and went to $125 per week, and the club was soon renamed Barbara's Exclusive Club, after her stage name at the time, Barbara "Bobbie" Minton. Her mother had desperately wanted a boy, and when the nurses told her she had a little girl instead, the matriarch refused to even touch her baby. Okeh Race Records released eight singles of her music between 1928 and 1929. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Although some of the corpses were eventually found, it was impossible to prove the cause of death. The details of this courtship, however, areshady. That year, Bentley took up with kitchen cook Charles Roberts, marrying him after a whirlwind courtship. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Theyd seen talent before, but theyd never seen talent like this. Gladys Bentley Early Life Story, Family Background and Education When Bentley approached young, impressionable women at her clubs, she would often get them in the mood by asking them to sing dirty lyrics into her microphone. After graduating from the rent party circuit, Bentley got her shot at becoming a nightclub performer. Try again later. She often dressed as a man in her signature black-and-white tuxedo. Date of Death: July 19, 2017. In her Ebony tell-all I Am A Woman, Bentley mentions yet another husband, a sailor named Don, who she claims seduced her, turned her straight, and set her on the path to womanhood again. Bentley also studied to be a minister, claiming to have been "cured" by taking female hormones. Bentley didnt do anything by halves. 1,242 likes, 52 comments - Gladys Bentley Society (@gladysbentleysoc) on Instagram: "This incredible human is a living testament to the power of faith, will, resilience, and service . In an article she wrote about her life for Ebony magazine, she said that soon after arriving in Harlem she auditioned at the Mad House, a venue on 133rd Street, which was in need of a male pianist. Acclaimed singer Gladys Knight recently became the latest celebrity to fall victim to an online death hoax.
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