The Scandalous Life Of American Icon Pearl Bailey

When it comes to American legend Pearl Bailey, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. Sure, she was a fantastic singer, but she was also a dancer, actor, “humorist,” humanitarian—and even with all that going on, she still had time for a scandal-filled personal life.

[jyvonne]

I enjoyed the narration of Ms. Pearl Bailey's Life!! I did not hear anything scandalous ....I only heard the story of another African American woman who lived the life she chose with courage, enthusiasm and LOVE with a message you can do anything you put your mind to and never give in or give up!!👍🏾👍🏾😊💯. "A Phenomenal Woman!"

[noregrets]

I’m heartbroken and sorry that this great, talented lovely lady and the loves of her life ended more or less when she did. A legend never dies but continues with each new generation that are lucky enough to find her star.

[seminolesuperfan]

A beautiful voice her, Etta James, and Ella Fitzgerald really put such feeling and emotion into what they sing and they always sound just as good live as they do recorded.

[Curlyblonde]

Hard start to her life that didn't discourage her, cause her to stumble in reaching her goals or make her embittered. Good also to hear that she didn't succumb to drug or alcohol addiction like so many entertainers and movie stars do. Had a happier and better life once she found the right partner. She was an icon and a good example of a well-grounded, healthy outlook personality.

[DJWOLFLIVE]

Queen Latifa and Pearl Bailey have very similar hand and body gestures so alike i could see her playing Pearl

[iriswilliams]

I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO GIVE US ALL, A LOOK INT PEARL BAILEY'S LIFE, HER BEAUTY, HER INTELLECT, HER CHALLENGES,
HER MARRIAGES, LOOKING FOR TRUE LOVE AND NEVER GIVING UP....HER NAME SUITES HER "PEARL" THAT'S HOW PRECIOUS SHE WAS.

I AM ALSO PROUD OF HER, THAT SHE WAS WISE ENOUGH TO IGNORE, IGNORANT STATEMENTS MADE ABOUT HER, WHEN IT CAME TO THE
MARCH. YOU GIVE YOUR GIFTS TO LIFE ONE STEP AND ONE DAY AT A TIME. AND GOD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WE ALL HAS TO ANSWER TO.

PLEASING PEOPLE AND WORRIED ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, OR DON'T DO FOR THEM. WILL DRAIN YOU OF YOUR OWN SELF WORTH, AND DIGNITY.
GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART AND THIS IS ALL THAT MATTERS!!!!

PEARL SAID, "SHE WALKS WITH LOVE AND HOPES IT RUBS OFF!!" WHAT A BEAUTIFUL QUOTATION ..I WONDER IF SHE WOULDN'T MIND SOMEONE BORROWS THIS STATEMENT FILLED WITH WISDOM AND TRUE LOVE. WHO CAN RESIST SUCH A GIFT TO US ALL...THANK YOU

[deeparks]

I love her music. She sounds like a beautiful and resilient soul.

[hippomom]

This was so good and I learned much about this wonderful Lady!🎙
Thank you❤

[ginacaradonna]

I'm so glad she was able to find the love of her life!

[sonaterese]

Thank you - this was a wonderful story and I am so glad that Pearl had such a long and happy marriage

[earthangel]

I had the good fortune to see her perform "Hello Dolly" live on stage in Boston. She was phenomenal. During her performance, she spotted a Jewish family sitting in a box off to the side of the stage.  

Because of the age of the young boy with them, she correctly guessed he was celebrating his bar mitzvah. She asked him if he wanted to come onstage and do a number with "Ol' Pearl." Grinning from ear to ear, he nodded Yes.  

He was escorted down onto the stage with her, and they did a soft shoe routine, while his family members had their cameras clicking away. Then he got to make a bow to the audience which was cheering and clapping madly.

There was a baseball game going on in Boston that Saturday, and there were men in the audience who had their transistor radios up to their ears, but kept their eyes on Pearl's performance.  

The impression was that their wives had probably dragged them to the performance and they were trying to comply while keeping their attention on the game simultaneously.

Pearl was at the top of a stage staircase and descended singing the show's title song.

But when she got to the bottom of the staircase, she signaled to the orchestra in the pit below to stop playing.

She turned to the audience and said, "I might as well put you out of your misery. The score is (whatever it was between the Boston Red Sox and whomever they were playing)... All bases are loaded. Let's bring the Sox onto home plate."

The audience SCREAMED with delight, stamping their feet and clapping.

She showed them that she was aware of the importance of the game to the men, and they LOVED her giving them her attention.

Then she said, "Now I am going to go back up the staircase and start all over again." She walked back up the long staircase and re-started singing "Hello Dolly" song, descending the staircase with their FULL attention this time.

The audience was still screaming with delight and clapping.

This was a genius move on her part. There she had been standing at the top of the stars making her grand entrance, and men were leaning forward in their seats with radios up against their ears. Their attention was OBVIOUSLY divided. She wasn't going to have a PARTIALLY-attentive audience, so she took the time to acknowledge their dilemma and gain an even MORE rousing response to her singing the title song.  

She was using the song as a way to pay tribute to the Red Sox, so the audience's fervor was their way of cheering for BOTH their home team and PEARL.

Brilliant move. I don't remember who won the ball game though, and I didn't care. Pearl was pure magic, though.

[sheilathompson]

I am thankful that this woman was such a trailblazer for women of color in the show business industry. I salute her courage and strength of character, as well as, the love that she radiated from generous spirit.

[nanadavis]

Pearl Bailey was special. She attacked life head on and accomplished her goals as a result of it. She gave us fantastic entertainment and in essence, took the world by storm. As Frank Sinatra DID IT HER WAY AS WELL.❤❤❤❤PEARL WAS PURELY LOVED!

[JohnP]

I purchased Tony Bellson's house. Tony was Louie's brother. They were both drummers. Pearl and Louie came here many times and the brothers would jam in the living room.

[greeld]

This is a great overview of Pearl Bailey’s life but I wished we could have heard her sing.

[ShesAnIntrovert]

Thanks so much for those video!! My grandmother took me to see Hello Dolly at the Kennedy Center when I was little, it was my first play 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

[kevintennant]

Hey man that was mind blowing. I'd like to thank you from the very bottom of my heart for being so damn passionate about All these great stars of the past. You really bring them to life for me. And for that you are greatly appreciated thank you so much. God bless you. And keep 'em coming.😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[WVAlmostHeaven]

Pearl Bailey was born in Newport News, Virginia, not Newport, Virginia.
I am from West Virginia, but I lived in Newport News for a while and worked for Denbigh Animal Hospital.

[Believer-dveu]

Not a scandalous life, more of an interesting life. R.I.P. Empress Pearl🕊️

[deborahb]

Great bio. Thanks for the inspiration!