tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25806438.post7219225305653572197..comments2024-01-26T09:29:04.765-08:00Comments on My American Meltingpot: Josephine Baker: Singer, Dancer, Spy, HeroProfessor Tharpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04714326142739366426noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25806438.post-70050000045514545192009-12-27T12:45:59.808-08:002009-12-27T12:45:59.808-08:00All to often "Josephine Baker: the artist &am...All to often "Josephine Baker: the artist & performer" gets lost in the mix of "Josephine Baker: the revolutionary black woman". I am not downplaying this in any way, but there is something very important that people ALWAYS forget - she was a singer, above all else. She was a music-hall diva of the highest order. Most people don't even really know what her occupation was ... they are often filled with visions of her rainbow tribe, Les Milandes, her banana skirt, etc. There is nothing more divine that La Baker at about aged 50-67, dressed in a form fitting gown with a grandiose head-dress on her crown, descending a grand escalier & singing "Paris mes amours" or "Avec" (2 of her later life standards). People also forget that her voice went through quite a transformation as she aged - dropping almost 5 octaves from the twittery instrument it was in her younger life. Unfortunately, footage of La Baker at the height of her vocal & artistic powers (circa 1955-1975) is hard to come by, but recordings aren't, thank God. There are 3 albums in particular that highlight her in this era: "The Fabulous Josephine Baker", "...en la Habana" & "Chante Paris". It would be nice if someone would, for once, highlight this aspect of her, which is ALWAYS forgotten. Sigh :( In light of this fact, I have uploaded some of her performances & recordings to my youtube page (mrlopez2681).mrlopez2681@gmail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25806438.post-88717732304891010292009-03-05T09:14:00.000-08:002009-03-05T09:14:00.000-08:00Love her. Read anything I can about her. I always ...Love her. Read anything I can about her. I always think the modern day Angelina Joile tries to model herself after Jospehine Baker. The scandalous sex symbol who does humaitarian work, and adopts a whole rainbow tribe. Just a thought.glamah16https://www.blogger.com/profile/16724763173861801914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25806438.post-19670832614086730582009-02-25T12:54:00.000-08:002009-02-25T12:54:00.000-08:00This looks like a great program - I probably won't...This looks like a great program - I probably won't make it, but I will definitely pass the info around. <BR/><BR/>I was just looking for books on Josephine Baker, and we've only got one true biography in our collection - The Josephine Baker Story, from 2000. Have you read it?Alex Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07015672224997998170noreply@blogger.com