Celebrity Jukebox #75: Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge has been dubbed Hollywood's first black leading lady, and she was the first African American actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Otto Preminger's 1954 movie Carmen Jones. Some call Dandridge the "black Marilyn Monroe" and parallels can be made between the two actresses, particularly that they both died of an overdose at very young ages. Dandridge, however, would never achieve Marilyn-like immortality, because, as she herself explained, “America was not geared to make me into a Liz Taylor, a Monroe, a Gardner.” 

Dandridge started out as a singer in a group called The Wonder Children, later becoming The Dandridge Sisters. Later in her career, she sang in nightclubs such as The Cotton Club. She had a hell of a voice, as evidenced in this clip from Carmen Jones...

How does the jukebox pay tribute to Dorothy? With the usual smorgasboard of too-cool-for-Rol rappers. But she does keep fine company in this duet from Angie Stone and James Ingram...

Who are my people? Dr. Vernon Johns

Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks

Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X

Bishop Desmond Tutu, Mohammad Ali

Sydney Poitier, Quincy Jones

Moms Mabley, Reverend Blake Scott

Aretha Franklin, Reverend Jamal Bryant

Dorothy Dandridge, Richard Pryor

Lena Horn, Samuel Jackson

Nancy Wilson, Magic Johnson

Mahalia Jackson, Smokey Robinson

Angie Stone feat. James Ingram - My People

In total contrast, here's an unusually romantic bunch of punks...

We make our way to the exit before all of the lights go on

Did you think our walk home was gonna end your masquerade

And I tried to keep my cool, but I knew I would cave

I tell you I dreamed you danced

So gracefully

You were like Dorothy Dandridge

And I was dressed like Gene Autry and you wore

Red so well

Red City Radio - Joy Comes With The Morning

Finally, we have this, from a contemporary artist I have some time for since she sang guest vocals on one of the best singles of 2011, We Are Young by fun. She's also a pretty fine actress, as evidenced in the TV series Homecoming and her recent turn in the latest Benoit Blanc whodunnit, Glass Onion. And with this song, she puts Dorothy Dandridge up there with the greats... Bette and Dickie Davis... stars with songs in their eyes.