Bailey, Pearl Mae

1918 - Born on the 29th of March in Southampton County, Virginia, to Rev. Joseph & Ella Mae Bailey.

1933 - Began as a dancer and won an amateur contest in Philadelphia.

1938 - She won a singing contest at Harlem's Apollo Theatre.

1946 - Starred in the Broadway musical St Louis Woman.

1952 - Married the drummer-bandleader Louis Bellson.

1954 - Appeared in many films, television, and stage shows, including Carmen Jones.

1967-1969 - Hello, Dolly.

1968 - Her autobiography, The Raw Pearl, was published in this year.

1970-1971 - Hosted her own television variety show.

1988 - Awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom on 17th of October.

1990 - Pearl Bailey died on 17th of August due to heart failure.

• "A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive."
• "We must change in order to survive."
• "What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork."
• "When you're young, the silliest notions seem the greatest achievements."
• "There are two kinds of talents, man-made talent and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent, you just touch it up once in a while."