Alberta peal biography definition
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In Which We Turn LaWanda Page
So authentic was LaWanda Page (Alberta Peal, 1920-2002) in her role as the hot-tempered, pious Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son and its various sequels (1972-1981) that many must have assumed as I did (though I was a child), that she was a talented non-actor, cast for her genuine real-life qualities rather than her ability to play a role. In reality, much like the similar Moms Mabley, “LaWanda/ Esther” was a character Alberta Peal had developed over the years in nightclubs with great success, one that was easily transplantable to the Sanford universe.
Peal had been a close friend of Redd Foxx’s in high school in St. Louis. Like Foxx, she began working the Chitlin’ Circuit when she was young, initially as a dancer, and then as a fire-eater billed as “The Bronze Goddess of Fire”. Gradually she became part of Skillet and LeRoy’s comedy act, before going out as a solo stand-up performer, working the same
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nina Simone (born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist. She worked in a broad range of musical styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop.
The sixth child of a preacher's family in North Carolina, Simone aspired to be a concert pianist. Her musical path changed direction after she was denied a scholarship to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, despite a well-received audition. Simone said she later found out from an insider at Curtis that she was denied entry because she was black. So as to fund her continuing musical education and become a classical pianist, she began playing in a small club in Philadelphia where she was also required to sing. She was approached for a recording by Bethlehem Re
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LaWanda Page
American actress and comedian (1920–2002)
LaWanda Page (born Alberta Richmond; October 19, 1920[2] – September 14, 2002)[4][5] was an American actress, comedian and dancer whose career spanned six decades. Crowned "The Queen of Comedy" or "The Black Queen of Comedy",[3] Page melded blue humor, signifyin' and observational comedy with jokes about sexuality, race relations, African-American culture and religion. She released five solo albums, including the 1977 gold-selling Watch It, Sucker!, and collaborated on two albums with the comedy group Skillet, Leroy & Co. As an actress, Page is best known for portraying the Bible-toting and sharp-tongued Esther Anderson on the popular television sitcom Sanford and Son, which aired from 1972 until 1977.[3] Page reprised the role in the short-lived television shows Sanford Arms (1976–1977) and Sanford (1980–1981). She also costarred in the 1979 sh