Welch, Elisabeth (1904–2003)

African-American actress and singer. Born Feb 27, 1904, in New York, NY, to Scottish mother and African-American and Native American father; died July 17, 2003, in London, England; married briefly and divorced.

One of the most loved figures on the British stage, began career in the chorus of Broadway shows, then appeared in Runnin' Wild (1923) and introduced the song, "Singing Charleston"; had breakthrough in Blackbirds of 1928, starring Bill "Bojangles" Robinson; traveled with Blackbirds to Paris, playing at Moulin Rouge nightclub to favorable reviews (1929); sang "Love for Sale" in Cole Porter's revue The New Yorkers (1930); appeared in Porter's Nymph Errant in London, singing "Solomon" (1933), which became her signature tune; remained in London, where she starred on stage in Glamorous Night (1935), singing "Shantytown," and Arc de Triomphe (1943), and in such films as Song of Freedom (1936) and Big Fella (1937), with Paul Robeson; a frequent broadcaster on BBC, had own radio program, "Soft Lights and Sweet Music"; garnered raves for musical Pippin (1970s); starred in Derek Jarman's film The Tempest (1980); won Obie Award for one-woman show A Time to Start Living (1986) and nominated for Tony Award for Broadway version of London hit Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood (1986); recordings include Elizabeth Welch Sings Irving Berlin (1988), Nymph Errant Original Soundtrack (1990), Elisabeth Welch Live in New York (1995), Harlem in My Heart (2001) and Carmen Jones—1962 Studio Cast (2003).