Thanks for your help! Eartha Mae Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 December 25, 2008) was an American singer and actress known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby". However, the famous singer never knew it as she died without knowing the identity of her father, reported The Guardian. As a young child, she worked in the same cotton field her mom did with a black family who insulted and called her "Yella" girl because she looked white. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Her mixed heritage made life difficult for the young woman who endured racism . Though she had little knowledge of her father, it was reported that he was a son of the owner of the farm where she had been born, and that Kitt was conceived by rape. Shapiro once told Fox News about how life was as a child and her special recollections of Eartha, who was always very proud of Shapiro. Verify and try again. Eartha made some jokes about finding her parents upon arriving at the event, and the students were keen on helping. While Shapiro was allowed access, when she came with her mom, Kitt was asked to leave because it was a whites-only park. She died on Christmas Day 2008 at her home in Weston, Connecticut. Eartha and McDonald divorced in 1965; she never remarried. Hearings, 90th Cong., 1st Sess. Shapiro added that her mother did not like it when people pigeonhole one another and categorize each other making such comments. After the death of Annie Mae, Eartha was sent to live with another relative named Mamie Kitt (who may, in fact, have been her biological mother) in Harlem, New York City,[7] where she attended the Metropolitan Vocational High School (later renamed the High School of Performing Arts). She also hoped everyone who reads the memoir would see it as a love story between a mother and her daughter. pp. ", Eartha Kitt attends the event in her honor hosted by M.A.C Cosmetics and Zac Posen at Cafe Carlyle on September 19, 2007 in New York City. During the 60s she was active in the civil rights movement and refused to play in segregated venues. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Kitt's unique style was enhanced as she became fluent in French during her years performing in Europe. She was once quoted as saying, a man has always wanted to lay me down, but he never wanted to pick me up.. In the musical, one song gives a "recipe" for mahoun, a preparation of cannabis, in which her sultry purring rendition of the refrain "constantly stirring with a long wooden spoon" was distinctive. Mamie lived in 1930, at address, Ohio. Shapiro also discussed the lessons she learned from her parent from a young age, especially regarding race. Hersh published an article about the dossier in The New York Times. When the performer was allowed to speak, she stood on a chair and made an impassioned speech about her discontent with the war and other aspects of life in this country. The Sharon Herald Sun May 01, 2011, 09:00 PM EDT Mamie Kitt of 904 Wallis Ave., Farrell. When Mamie Kitt was born about 1926, her mother, Hattie, was 23. I truly believe her survival instincts were so part of her DNA that she was not going to go quietly or willingly. Mamie Kitt was a loving, dedicated relative who provided an important presence in Earthas life. "[12] cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Shapiro explained what being a lighter shade in color meant at the time, revealing that the black community did not even accept her mother: "In 1927, to be a light-skinned black person in the South was just as horrible as being a black person in the white South.". Still, the colorful character she portrayed on stage bears a stark contrast to her beginnings and the dark circumstances surrounding her birth. She released numerous albums throughout her lifetime, including her most famous album, That Bad Eartha, which featured some of her most popular songs, such as Santa Baby and Cest Si Bon. Kitt left this world in 2008 at the age of 81. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. She noted her mom did not discriminate against other people. Mrs.. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. In 1967, she played Catwoman in the third and final season of the television series Batman. Kitt breathed her last at the age of 81, after battling colon cancer. In her later years, Kitt made annual appearances in the New York Manhattan cabaret scene at venues such as the Ballroom and the Caf Carlyle. All content, including text, and images contained on. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Sun 28 Dec 2008 19.01 EST. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. She also did a series of commercials for Old Navy. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Kitt returned once again to the silver screen in 2003 with the charming role of Madame Zeroni in the film Holes based on the book by the same name, by author Louis Sachar. an all-black remake of "Kismet. However,, Why should people put their faith in you? After giving a spectacular performance at a Parisian venue, Eartha was approached by the famed actor Orson Welles who had been in the audience. Planting will take place in Spring of the following year. Kitt revealed she had attempted to find her birth certificate in the 1950s but was unsuccessful. Sorry! They labeled her as a "sex kitten" who "slinked" or was "on the prowl" across the stage. She added, her mom believed that the death was not natural, claiming that it was voodoo and spiritual. [19][20] Kitt was asked by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson about the Vietnam War. She married real estate developer Bill McDonald in 1960, and the couple gave birth to daughter Kitt Shapiro before they separated in 1965. [34] Kitt was also a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; her criticism of the Vietnam War and its connection to poverty and racial unrest in 1968 can be seen as part of a larger commitment to peace activism. The globally beloved performer would later consider herself an original Material Girl because of her liaisons with wealthy men. After setting eyes on her birth certificate for the first time in 1998, Kitt wept when she noticed her fathers name had been blacked out. Try again later. Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world." Born Eartha Mae Keith, an out-of-wedlock child, on January 17, 1927 in North, South Carolina, Kitt's mother was of Cherokee and African-American descent and her father of German or Dutch descent. Welles approached the young songstress about a part in his play Time Runs, based on the Faust legend. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. They are not hippies for no reason at all. Shapiro explained that her mom did not understand why it was necessary to be categorized as jazz or gospel because she was a black person. Mamie was only six years old when she arrived, and she quickly became a part of the Kitt family. She fell in love with singers like Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine. 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Rickey L. Kitt Obituary. She added the Santa Baby singer was brutally abused in her hometown, was beaten, and mistreated emotionally and physically. Nothing in the world is more painful than rejection. [11], Kitt began her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company in 1943 and remained a member of the troupe until 1948. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Obituaries. Mamie Lee Kittmarried Julius Montgomery Cain. Year should not be greater than current year. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Years later, in 2008, Eartha Kitt sadly died at the age of 81 from complications from colon cancer. Shapiro also recalled being on a South African theme park with her mother, who was asked to leave because the park was for whites only. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). The activist did not even know how old she was and had always filled in January 26 on her passport, whereas she was born on January 17, 1927. This account has been disabled. Edit Search New Search Jump to Filters. A British journalist named John Williams wrote a biography about her titled Americas Mistress: Eartha Kitt, Her Life and Times and claimed Kitts dad was Daniel Sturkie, a local white doctor. In 1988, Kitt replaced Dolores Gray in the West End production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies as Carlotta, receiving standing ovations every night for her rendition of "I'm Still Here" at the beginning of act 2. based on information from your browser. There is a problem with your email/password. What America Would Be Like Without Blacks? that benefits the victims. In 2000, Kitt again returned to Broadway in the short-lived run of Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party. She added Kitt chose not to react because she knew that she would have a platform as a public figure to make a difference one day. Resend Activation Email. Annie Mae Keiths daughter, Kitt died ofcolon canceron Christmas Day 2008, three weeks short of her 82nd birthday at her home inWeston, Connecticut. Her birth resulted from an illegitimate relationship between her then 16-year-old mother, Anna Mae Keith, and a white man. Kitt wrote three autobiographies.[3]. Her mother Annie Mae Keith was of Cherokee and African descent. "Eartha Kitt Observes Seventh Year With Black Ghetto School". No wonder the kids rebel and take pot. Mamie married William T Kitt. She was only 8 when her mother mysteriously passed away; Eartha believed she had been poisoned. As a member of Second Baptist Church in Farrell, she sang in the choir; and served as an usher, with the Missionary Society and with the Flower Fund. Mamie was the half-sister of Earthas mother, Annie Mae Keith. In the late 1990s, she appeared as the Wicked Witch of the West in the North American national touring company of The Wizard of Oz. It was arranged that James would impersonate Kitt and then Kitt would walk out to take the microphone. She was then sent to live in New York City with Mamie Kitt, who she learned was her biological mother . Her husband, Charles H. Kitt, whom she married Oct. 25, 1949, passed away July 25, 1964. They are rebelling against something. In 2003, she replaced Chita Rivera in Nine. In April 2008, just months before her death, Kitt appeared at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival; the performance was recorded. Eartha Kitt attends the event in her honor at Cafe Carlyle on September 19, 2007 in New York City | Photo: Getty Images. She was blacklisted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and investigated by the CIA. Family members linked to this person will appear here. She is a lesser-known figure in the Kitt family. Despite stealing hearts as a songstress, Eartha Kitt faced rejection her whole life because she was biracial. Shapiro shared she and her mom had to get a lawyer and petition the court to get the records opened, and the entire process took about six to seven months. For six decades, the American entertainer Eartha Kitt, who has died aged 81 of colon cancer, was a showbusiness force of nature. In 1998, she was finally given a copy of her birth certificate only to see that her fathers name had been blacked out by the clerks office. Although not as famous as her famous niece, Mamie played an important role in Earthas life. Shapiro explained: She was convinced her mother was poisoned. Kitt lived with another family until Riley's death. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? She noted that the actress never found out what her fathers name was but always assumed that he was a white man, adding her mom was referred to as a yellow gal, which she said was not a compliment. 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