description Ethel Waters Overview
Ethel Waters moved from the Black vaudeville circuit into a career that connected popular singing with dramatic acting. Her performances and recordings helped popularize songs including 'Dinah' and 'Stormy Weather,' while appearances at venues such as the Cotton Club brought her work to wider audiences. Her vocal interpretations combined musical phrasing with a strong sense of character and the meaning of a lyric. Waters also crossed racial barriers in mainstream entertainment, including white vaudeville venues.
Later screen and television work established her as a dramatic actress as well as a singer. She became the second African American performer nominated for an Academy Award and received an Emmy nomination. Her career suits those interested in the connections between blues-influenced popular music and acting, and in how Black women expanded their opportunities across different entertainment settings.
help Ethel Waters FAQ
Did Ethel Waters introduce the song "Stormy Weather"?
Yes, Ethel Waters first performed "Stormy Weather" at the Cotton Club in Harlem in 1933. Her rendition was a sensation, and she went on to perform the song in the 1943 film of the same name, though the song is also closely associated with Lena Horne.
What was the TOBA circuit that Ethel Waters started on?
The Theatre Owners Booking Association, commonly known as TOBA, was the major Black vaudeville circuit in the early 20th century. Waters began her professional career on this circuit, which served African American audiences across the South and Midwest before she crossed over to mainstream white venues.
Did Ethel Waters receive an Academy Award nomination?
Yes, Waters was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1949 film "Pinky," directed by Elia Kazan. The nomination made her one of the first African American women to be recognized by the Academy in a major acting category.
Did Ethel Waters write an autobiography?
Yes, Waters published her autobiography, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," in 1951, which became a bestseller. The title, taken from a spiritual she made famous, reflected the central role of faith and music throughout her turbulent and groundbreaking life.
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