The unknown cause explained a tragic death that had occurred decades earlier. She relocated to southern California, marketing herself as Americas Greatest Sepia Piano Player and The Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs, a cheeky nod to her inelegant lyrical double entendres. The cause of death was a heart attack, and it was later discovered that one of the contributing factors was liver failure due to alcohol poisoning. When she brought little Gladys home, she refused to nurse the girl, leaving Bentleys grandmother to raise the infant on a bottle for six months. Gladys Bentley Death: and Cause of Death On January 18, 1960, Gladys Bentley died of non-communicable disease. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. The world's biggest star was found in his bathroom at Graceland on August 16, 1977, and pronounced dead at Memphis Baptist Memorial Hospital. When Bentley ran away from home, she was certainly disillusioned with her familybut she was also hiding a huge secret. While Bentley was in California, the halcyon days of the liberal Roaring Twenties transformed into conservatism almost overnight, and she didnt find as many friendly faces in her crowds. Michael Bekoev was a Ukrainian bodybuilder who died of a heart attack at age 54. 4. based on information from your browser. Gladys George was one of the movies' greatest hard-luck dames, both on- and off-screen. There was a problem getting your location. Years before Gladys Bentley performed in midtown Manhattan, she arrived in Harlem around 1925. Her career skyrocketed when she appeared at Harry Hansberry's Clam House, a well-known gay speakeasy in New York in the 1920s, as a black, lesbian, cross-dressing performer. At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. Although Bentley used feminine pronouns in her public life, some experts believe she would have been a transgender man today, while others insist she only played with gender expectations and never tried to pass as a man. His autopsy was legally sealed for fifty years but, in. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. She went to Broadway anywaybut she would live to regret it. She was the oldest of four children and, in her own words, neither wanted nor loved, because her mother had wanted a boy and was bitterly disappointed. As times progressed and federal laws continued to change, there became a point where Bentley had to carry special permits to allow her to perform in men's clothing. Although she was a talented singer and pianist, her lyricism and queer presentation truly made her stand out. The best part? Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. The Tragic Real-Life Story Of The Presley Family - Grunge In truth, Gladys Bentley has been a mystery for decades. "It broke my heart," Elvis Presley said. Well, just you wait. Her shocking lyrics were accompanied by gossip column stories that readers would have found equally shocking. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 3 references. Gladys Bentley - Historical records and family trees - MyHeritage Gipson passed, but the spitfire performer didnt wait until he was cold in his grave to jump into bedwith yet another man. That one had to hurt. Suddenly, she had to get a special permit to wear mens clothing for her performances, and endured heckling on the streets. Bentley reported wearing her three younger brothers suits to school when growing up. The database also contains older death records for some parishes, such as deaths that occurred in Jefferson parish before 1911, and deaths that occurred in Orleans parish as early as . She was a pioneer in pushing the envelope of gender, sexuality, class, and race with parody and exaggeration, personally and professionally. . You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Add to your scrapbook. Bentley claimed that she and her white female lover went through a civil union in New Jersey. In 1958, Bentley, who grew up in Philadelphia, appeared on Groucho Marxs game show You Bet Your Life where she said she was from Port-au-Spain (her mother happened to be Trinidadian). At the time of her death she survived by her large extended friends and family. Gladys Bentley died suddenly from the flu in Los Angeles in 1960 at the age of 52. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. 2013.46.25.15 Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture She's been a special interest of mine for quite some time, and in the 1920's and 30's she was especially prominent. While performing at the Manhattan nightclub Kings Terrace, the masculine garbed smut-singing entertainer, as one audience member put it, quickly got the authorities to shut the whole place down with her performance. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? When Bentley came up to a hot young thing, she had one go-to move. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Gipson shortly after arriving on the West coast. They eventually divorced. The same year, she attempted to move her act to Broadway, despite legal issues. Instance Of Rank; Q3. In an effort to describe her supposed "cure" for homosexuality she wrote an essay, "I Am a Woman Again", for Ebony magazine in which she stated she had undergone an operation, which "helped change her life again".[17][18][19]. 0 references. Elvis was given emergency leave to visit her, arriving in Memphis on August 12, but she died on August. Oftentimes when she mentioned something about her personal life, you had to take it with a grain of salt and not necessarily take it for truth.. Gladys Bentley had told the gossip columnist that she had just gotten married. Inevitably, even the vaunted Ubangi club closed its doors in 1937, kicking Bentley out along with its regular clientele. This drag king persona has formed part of her legacy to this day. Gladys Bentley | LGBTQIA+ Wiki | Fandom You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. On the decline of the Harlem speakeasies with the repeal of Prohibition, she relocated to southern California, where she was billed as "America's Greatest Sepia Piano Player" and the "Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs". She had a recording contract for her raunchy songs, put out a series of records with her broad, booming voice, and was just positioning herself to take over the bright lights of Broadway.

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