Washington, Tyson, and Vaughan were significant change agents in American culture. Each broke down racial barriers and became an international celebrity. Dinah Washington, “Queen of the Blues,” was larger-than-life with a voice to match. A renowned firebrand, Washington burned through a short 39 years and seven husbands on her way to national stardom. She was the first singer to fuse blues, jazz, and pop into her unique style.

At 48, Cicely Tyson became an “overnight” star after struggling for twelve years as a minor actor in dozens of TV shows. Her leading roles in the films Sounder and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman launched a four-decade run as Hollywood’s leading Black actor.

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Emmy winner Sarah Vaughan entertained millions worldwide during her five-decade career. The New York Times reviewed her performance of “Send in the Clowns” by calling it a “three-octave tour de force of semi-improvisational pyrotechnics in which the jazz, pop, and operatic sides of her musical personality came together and found complete expression.”

Join us for these groundbreaking entertainers’ life stories and performances, including live audio and video performances.

This course will be presented in a lecture format.