Wesley Willis
American musician and artist (1963-2003)
Hazel Dorothy Scottwas a Trinidadian jazz and classical pianist and singer. She was an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and segregation.
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Hazel Dorothy Scottwas a Trinidadian jazz and classical pianist and singer. She was an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and segregation. She used her influence to improve the representation of Black Americans in film.
Born in Port of Spain, Scott moved to New York City with her mother at the age of four. Scott was a child musical prodigy, receiving scholarships to study at the Juilliard School when she was eight. In her teens, she performed at Cafe Society while still at school. She also performed on the radio.
She was active as a jazz singer throughout the 1930s and 1940s. In 1950, she became the first black American to host her own TV show, The Hazel Scott Show. Her career in the United States faltered after she testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1950 during the era of McCarthyism. Scott subsequently moved to Paris, France, in 1957 and began performing in Europe, not returning to the United States until 1967.
I’ve always known I was gifted, which is not the easiest thing in the world for a person to know, because you’re not responsible for your gift, only for what you do with it.
American musician (1920-1981)
I have always respected everyone’s religion. As I say, there is only one God and a lot of confused people.
American musician (1920-1981)
I think we musicians are emissaries. Every time we go before the public, we’re there to make converts.
American musician (1920-1981)
There’s only one free person in this society, and he is white and male.
American musician (1920-1981)
Who ever walked behind anyone to freedom? If we can’t go hand in hand, I don’t want to go.
American musician (1920-1981)
There’s a time when you have to explain to your children why they’re born, and it’s a marvelous thing if you know the reason by then.
American musician (1920-1981)