Twin sisters Emi and Yumi Ito were discovered singing in a small club in their native Nagoya, Japan. Their act consisted of Japanese-translated covers of popular songs mixed with traditional Japanese folk songs. They were signed by Sho Watanabe of the powerhouse talent agency Watanabe Productions. Watanabe controlled and represented the vast majority of the entertainment industry in …
“Heroes need monsters to establish their heroic credentials. You need something scary to overcome.” — Margaret Atwood
Aida Overton Walker refused to be a stereotype. Born in New York City in 1880, Aida had extensive musical training and joined The Octoroons, a notable performing group of the late 19th century. Soon, the teenage Aida joined the Black Patti Troubadours, another popular singing and dancing group. Although the group consisted of dozens of performers, Aida …
Oblivious to his pending fate, Oscar took a phone call.
Hattie McDaniel is one of the most talented actresses and one of the most underrated actress ever to come out of Hollywood. After a successful beginning as an actress, singer and songwriter with her brother’s minstrel show, she toured with the Melody Hounds, a singing group. A radio performance by The Melody Hounds led to …
Then one day he was shootin’ at some food and up from the ground come a bubblin’ crude. Black gold. Texas tea.
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her attempt to do the same across the Pacific didn’t work out quite as well.
Lena Horne joined the chorus line at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club in the fall of 1933 when she was just 16. By the spring, she was a featured performer at the club, eventually touring as a vocalist with bandleader Charlie Barnet. Not a fan of life on the road, Lena returned to her native New …
Adventure is out there!
Frederick Douglass was a one-time slave who, secretly, taught himself how to read a write. He eventually escaped his inhumane treatment, fleeing to the North and settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He became an outspoken proponent for freedom as a firm believer in equality for all people. He was an advocate for voting rights for women and …
