Della Reese
Della Reese (born Delloreese Patricia Early; July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017)[1] was an American singer, actress, television personality, author and ordained minister.Reese then joined a gospel group called The Meditation Singers before turning her attention towards secular music.She won a local talent competition, which led to a multiple-week appearance at The Flame nightclub in New York City.Signing a contract the larger RCA Victor label, she had her greatest success as a singer with the songs "Don't You Know" and "Not One Minute More".She returned to gospel music after forming the group, Brilliance, which released an album in 1985 and was later nominated by the Grammy Awards.Reese then appeared in Eddie Murphy's 1989 film Harlem Nights and the short-lived 1991 TV series co-starring Redd Foxx called The Royal Family.Reese then went on to star, in the lead role of Tess, in the CBS TV series, Touched by an Angel, co-starring Roma Downey.[4] At age 13, she was heard by gospel performer, Mahalia Jackson, who was impressed by her singing and chose her to replace another female vocalist in her road show.[4] During this time she also attended Detroit's Cass Technical High School[7] where she graduated at age 15,[8] and then majored in psychology at Wayne State University in 1949.[3][18] Reese's music career was further elevated by Ed Sullivan who featured her on his television show multiple times and exposed her to a national audience.[23][24] Reese was signed in August 1959 to a long-term recording contract with the RCA Victor label and was paired with production team, Hugo & Luigi.[16] Both singles led to the release of her first RCA studio LP titled Della (1960), which featured cover tunes performed in both swing and pop styles.[28] Reese reached her peak commercial success during this period[4] leading to a variety of opportunities,[18] including singing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the 1960 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[3] RCA Victor continued issuing studio albums by Reese during the early 1960s, including another swing-inspired LP titled Special Delivery,[4] which rose to number 113 on the Billboard 200 in 1961.[15] The label also issued several studio LP's that featured of variety of musical genres including pop, jazz and the blues: C'mon and Hear Della Reese![40] A one-time "jam session" with several musicians led Reese to return to gospel music and form a group called Brilliance.[42] Co-produced by Reese herself, it was praised as "an absolutely stunning album" by Billboard in 1987[43] and a song from the collection ("You Gave Me Love") received a nomination by the Grammy Awards for Best Female Gospel Soul Performance.[44] Reese continued recording into the 1990s, appearing with a live album on her husband's Lett label titled Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues in 1995.[44] Her final album project was a 2006 studio collection issued by the Spiritual Icon label titled Give It to God.[4] Meanwhile, AllMusic critic Lindsay Planer claimed she "was never a hardcore jazz singer" because she was not "improvisation minded" like that of Carmen McRae or Sarah Vaughan.[18] Author James Lynwood Walker called Reese an "outstanding contemporary blues singer", categorizing her with Lou Rawls and Al Hibbler.[53] Reese also appeared in theatrical productions during this period, including Ain't Misbehavin (1982) and Blues in the Night (1983).In 1989, Harlem Nights was released featuring Murphy and Reese, along with Richard Pryor, Jasmine Guy, Arsenio Hall and Redd Foxx.[56] Yet, the comedic chemistry between Foxx and Reese on Harlem Nights inspired Murphy to write The Royal Family,[50] a TV show which aired on CBS in September 1991.[59] Reese was about to embark on a vacation with her husband when her agent offered her a lead role in an upcoming series called Touched by an Angel.Reese and husband Franklin Lett filmed several television movies for CBS in the 2000s such as The Secret Path and Anya Bell.[67] She then was featured in a film about the upbringing of Markus Redmond titled If I Had Known I Was a Genius (2007) alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Sharon Stone and Tara Reid.After a near-fatal accident in 1979, Reese became inspired by Reverend Johnnie Colemon, the founder of the non-denominational Universal Foundation for Better Living church.[81] In the same 2004 interview, Reese stated that her brother and sister "had five children that they were having a terrible time feeding and abortion was not as easily come by".[82] In September 1970, Reese was with her daughter playing in the swimming pool of her California home when she slipped and fell on a piece of tile.
Detroit, MichiganLos Angeles, CaliforniaWayne State UniversityDiscographyfilmographyMercer EllingtongospelJubileeParamountAvco EmbassyApplausesinglesHot 100Don't You Know?Touched by an AngelMahalia JacksonThe Meditation SingersJubilee RecordsAnd That Reminds MeRCA VictorNot One Minute MoreThe Ed Sullivan ShowThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonPsychic KillerChico and the ManGrammy AwardsEddie MurphyHarlem NightsRedd FoxxThe Royal FamilyRoma DowneyBeauty ShopBlack BottomCherokeeCass Technical High Schoolcerebral hemorrhageNew York CityErskine HawkinssingleIn the Still of the NightTime After TimeMy Melancholy Babysame nameBillboardEd Sullivantelevision showlive albumThe Story of the BluesWhat Do You Know About Love?Hugo & LuigiMusetta's WaltzLa bohèmeR&B sidesBillboard 200The Star Spangled BannerMajor League Baseball All-Star GameSpecial DeliveryDuke EllingtonThe Classic DellaclassicalWaltz with Me, DellaDella Reese at Basin Street EastSomeday (You'll Want Me to Want You)After Loving Youadult contemporaryIt Was a Very Good YearC'mon and Hear Della Reese!"i like it like dat!"Della on Strings of BlueI Gotta Be Me...This Trip OutLas VegasAvco Embassy RecordsGames People PlayB-sideCompared to WhatBubbling Under Hot 100Black Is BeautifulR&B albumsRight Now(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be RightLet Me in Your LifeStereo ReviewApplause RecordsO.C. SmithMary ClaytonBest Female Gospel Soul PerformanceAllMusicCarmen McRaeSarah VaughanTony BennettJo StaffordLou RawlsAl HibblerEthel WatersParadeElla FitzgeraldThe Merv Griffin ShowMike DouglasJohnny CarsonKraft FoodsThe Mod SquadFreddie PrinzeRichard PryorJasmine GuyArsenio Hallheart attackHollywood Walk of FameMartha WilliamsonQueen LatifahMarkus RedmondIf I Had Known I Was a GeniusWhoopi GoldbergSharon StoneTara ReidLifetimeSigned, Sealed, DeliveredG. P. Putnam's SonsReverend Johnnie ColemonUniversal Foundation for Better LivingMexican divorceLos Angeles TimesTucson Daily CitizenUCLA Medical CenterLittle Boy Lostbrain aneurysmLondon, Ontario