Gladys Alberta Bentley (August 12, 1907 January 18, 1960)[1] was an American blues singer, pianist, and entertainer during the Harlem Renaissance. On August 14, 1958, Gladys Presley died, aged just 46. All Rights Reserved. However, later that year, she did wed Charles Roberts, a cook sixteen years her junior. Thanks for your help! Her biggest dramas, however, were yet to come. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? In an article she wrote about her life for Ebony magazine, she said that soon after arriving in Harlem she auditioned at the Mad House, a venue on 133rd Street, which was in need of a male pianist. She began to resent her brothers and didnt want men to touch her, yet she also started wearing boys clothes and suits instead of skirts and blouses, partly in a bid to emulate who her mother wanted her to be. The Tragic Life Of Elvis Presley's Mother Gladys | Ben Vaughn How Old Was Elvis Presley When His Mother Died? Bentley also studied to be a minister, claiming to have been "cured" by taking female hormones. Season 3. She had been living in California with her mother and was waiting to be ordained as a minister in the Temple of Love in Christ, Inc. Today, she is being rediscovered for the same reason that her story was obscured during her youth. 01/18/1960 . Family members linked to this person will appear here. A cause of death wasn't. To use this feature, use a newer browser. occupation. She marched right over one night during a packed audience and met the clubs skeptical boss, Harry Hansberry. The performer had survived a harsh life up until this point, but she was about to spiral out of control. After leaving her hometown of Philadelphia as a teenager, she arrived in New York during the Harlem Renaissance and was absorbed into a vibrant artistic and intellectual community. Early the next morning at 3:15 AM on August 14, Gladys Presley, the 46-year-old mother of Elvis, died from a heart attack due to hepatitis complications. Ergo, no charges. Elvis' Mother Cause Of Death. From early on, Bentley overtly included sexuality in her act with her song content, stage moves, and attire. The eldest of four children, Bentley was born on August 12, 1907 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to George L. Bentley from the U.S. and Mary (Mote) Bentley from Trinidad. Haunting Elvis theory claims singer was destined to die young due to This drag king persona has formed part of her legacy to this day. Bentley's performances appealed to black, white, gay, and straight audiences alike, and many celebrities attended her shows. But she still had one more legacy left. Due to her inability to feel conformable and her family's inability to accept her as she was, Bentley ran away from home at the age of 16 to begin her life in New York City.[2]. Elvis' parents Vernon and Gladys | Photo by Getty Images Elvis was inconsolable following his mother's death After Gladys passed away, Elvis reportedly sank to his knees and wept. She created her own musical revue with a chorus of eight male dancers in drag, the primary attraction at the well-known Ubangi Club, 1934-1937. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. In her music, she called out men and openly sang about sexual relationships which was seen as risqu behavior at the time. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. In it, she not only repudiates her homosexuality, but also her entire identity before that moment, revealing that she now only wears dresses and other acceptable housewife attire in order to please her husband and herself. 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. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. My hands fairly flew over the keys. 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. Sadly, Bentleys confessions dont stop there. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. 0 cemeteries found in Carson, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Bentley began singing at rent parties and buffet flats. Bentley became an active member of the "Temple of Love In Christ" Church and was on her way to becoming an ordained minister at the time of her death from pneumonia at the age of 52. Eventually, Gladys grew old enough to notice this icy upbringingand the consequences were devastating. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. She quickly made a name for herself as somebody who sang ribald songs, says Wilson. She was 96. At the time, she didnt understand her desiresbut all that was about to change in a big way. That all changed in the blink of an eye. She moved to speakeasies and night clubs in Jungle Alley, the center of Harlems sporting life. On August 14, 1958, Gladys Presley died at age 46. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. 0 references. The hit show about a Yorkshire corner shop, which starred Ronnie. "Biblical Gender Bending in Harlem: The Queer Performance of Nugent's Salome. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. She took a seat at the piano on the set and performed a song that showed a vocal range and confidence that hadnt diminished since her days in Harlem. It couldnt have been going betterbuta rapid downfall was just around the corner. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. And then Mrs West returned to education - working towards a PhD . . As Bentley became more popular, she started performing at Harry Hansberrys Clam Houseone of New York Citys most well-known gay speakeasiesin the 1920s. At the peak of her career, the singer was . Lea Bentley, a primary teacher at Betsy Layne Elementary, died on Thursday. Gladyslived at address, Kentucky. Gladys Bentley Death: and Cause of Death On January 18, 1960, Gladys Bentley died of non-communicable disease. Unable to express her talent on Broadway, she was forced to move back to Harlem in 1934, where she then played at the Ubangi Club for three years before it closed in 1937. Gladys Bentley | LGBTQIA+ Wiki | Fandom Was Gladys Presley an Alcoholic? Gladys Presley's Cause of Death Get the latest information about timed passes and tips for planning your visit, Search the collection and explore our exhibitions, centers, and digital initiatives, Online resources for educators, students, and families, Engage with us and support the Museum from wherever you are, Find our upcoming and past public and educational programs, Learn more about the Museum and view recent news, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of African American History & Culture. Bentley was the most popular and infamous speakeasy performer in Prohibition-era New York. Then, she made a jaw-dropping decision. Bentley died of pneumonia unexpectedly at her home in Los Angeles on January 18, 1960, aged 52. English Oh, Bentley tried her best to make it workand it almost did. Gladys Bentley died suddenly from the flu in Los Angeles in 1960 at the age of 52. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. The Tragic Death Of Elvis Presley's Mother From Hepatitis FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - Funeral arrangements were announced for Betsy Layne Elementary School teacher Lea Bentley. Heck no. Openly lesbian, she sang raunchy remakes of popular tunes in a deep voice, dressed in her signature men's style of tuxedo and top hat. Gladys Bentley on "You Bet Your Life" - YouTube Elvis Presley Cause of Death: How Did 'The King' Die? Yet although the singer still brought the house down, her comeback only lasted three short years. All Rights Reserved. cause of death. Bentley didnt do anything by halves. Do you find this information helpful? Gladys Bentley's Confessions | SAPIENTIA Gladys Bentley (1907-1960) - BlackPast.org . At Factinate, were dedicated to getting things right. Bawdy Facts About Gladys Bentley, The Dapper Diva - Factinate . Then she proceeded to blow his mind. Inevitably, even the vaunted Ubangi club closed its doors in 1937, kicking Bentley out along with its regular clientele. GLADYS BENTLEY Gladys D. Fleming Bentley, 77, of 1020 Virginia Avenue, Anderson County, died Friday, August 2, 2002 at Heritage Hall Care Center in Lawrenceburg. Gladys Bentley on "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx 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". Though Bentley was in the process of finding herself, these discoveries only made her family more disgusted with her. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Resend Activation Email. Gladys Bentley had waited years for this moment, and she wasted no time grabbing the opportunity with both hands. It wouldnt be long before she shot to fame. Tragic Facts About Bessie Smith, The Empress Of The Blues, Eleanor Of Aquitaine Was Englands Fiercest QueenUntil Her Brutal End, Lawyers Reveal Their Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases, Truth Hurts: Binge-Worthy Stories About The Biggest Liars Of All Time, These Mega Embarrassing Moments Still Made Us Burst Out Laughing, Catherine The Great Was a Mighty EmpressUntil Her Brutal Downfall. A large, 250-pound woman, her deep voice appealed to straight, gay, black, and white audiences. On Thursday (April 27) the singer's reps officially confirmed that Gladys Knight is not dead. By the 1950s, Gladys Bentley was making some even more rash decisions. And she didnt stop there. Michael Bekoev was a Ukrainian bodybuilder who died of a heart attack at age 54. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. And in the end, shed have to grab that fame back with both hands. Shed made a scandalous name for herself singing her dirty songs, and audiences came out in droves. 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. Bentley, who never seemed to look at a man before, married the very manly J.T. Gladys Presley died on August 14, 1958, at the age of 46, due to a heart attack. 0 references. [11] She mostly played the blues and parodies of popular songs of the time: "mocking 'high' class imagery with 'low' class humor, she applied aspects of the sexually charged 'black' blues to demure, romantic 'white' ballads, creating a culture clash between these two music forms". Okeh Race Records released eight singles of her music between 1928 and 1929. I wore immaculate full white dress shirts with stiff collars, small bow ties and shirts, oxfords, short Eton jackets and hair cut straight back.. 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 . Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Think this stopped Gladys Bentley? Today, experts believe that the article and her marriages were not actually true representations of her identity, but rather her attempts to conform to the newly conservative standards of the day so she could survive. Gladys Bentley came into this world on August 12, 1907 as the eldest child of George Bentley and his wife Mary Mote. For one, while Bentley was a full-grown woman at 45 years old, Roberts was a measly 28 years old and not a match for her or her outsized reputation. She found one, alright. Feb 2013 Script - Gladys Bentley Tribute - Queer Music Heritage Today though, Bentleys story is resurfacing and she is seen as an African-American woman who was ahead of her time for proudly loving other women, wearing mens clothing and singing bawdy songs. At the time of her death, she was 53 years old. In her Ebony tell-all I Am A Woman, Bentley mentions yet another husband, a sailor named Don, who she claims seduced her, turned her straight, and set her on the path to womanhood again. She headlined in the early 1930s at Harlem's Ubangi Club, where she was backed up by a chorus line of drag queens. Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. even described the Harlem Renaissance being surely as gay as it was black. Heck no. based on information from your browser. 11 Black LGBTQ+ Icons Who Paved The Way For The World We Live In Now Scholars who have studied Bentleys life said that the story Bentley told about being cured in the Ebony article was likely a response to the McCarthy Era and its hostile claims that homosexuality and communism were threats to the country. No clan is left untouched, and even families that seem happy and normal on. Gladys Bentley's speakeasy from the Harlem Renaissance, "Clam Jam," was a gay nightlife scene 100 years ahead of its time. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Bentley died on March 2 at Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center. On January 18, 1960, when Bentley was still just 52 years old, she passed quite suddenly in her Los Angeles home. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Gladys Bentley (7634493)? After Elvis entered his mother ward and the door closed, witnesses remember a piercing wild despair of wails from Elvis were heard as he wept and prayed long and loud over his mother's lifeless body. She was revolutionary in her masculinity: "Differing from the traditional male impersonator, or drag king, in the popular theater, Gladys Bentley did not try to 'pass' as a man, nor did she playfully try to deceive her audience into believing she was biologically male. The family struggled financially. Despite those challenges Bentley likely encountered in New Yorks entertainment business, it is no surprise that she moved to Harlem. Gladys Bentleywas born circa 1909. The Great Blues Singer Gladys Bentley Broke All the Rules Gladys Bentley: Blues Singer - Smithsonian American Women's History You can always change this later in your Account settings. Heck, I volunteer as tribute. Gladys Bentley Obituary (1934 - 2021) | New York Mills, MN It was supposed to be a new chapter in her life, and then tragedy hit. The unknown cause explained a tragic death that had occurred decades earlier. Before long, Bentleys world got turned upside down again. She'd been lying about her age to conceal the fact that she was four years older than Vernon Presley. Gladys Bentley Was a Gender Outlaw - harpersbazaar.com "She was just defiant in who she was, and for gender and sexuality studies today, she shows the performance of . In many ways, Bentley never stopped trying to be in the spotlight, even as her audiences waned and the world changed around her. Advertising Notice Still, Bentley had bigger dreams on her mind. So maybe its no surprise that the lovebirds split up less than a year into their relationshipand more heartache was to come. Its a woman.. Suddenly, she had to get a special permit to wear mens clothing for her performances, and endured heckling on the streets. 4. Gladys George - Turner Classic Movies Want just a taste of Gladys Bentleys scorching lyrics? The best part? A lengthier and more prominently placed AP wire story announced in the country's newspapers that Elvis Presley's mother had died suddenly of a heart attack at age 42. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. She was a big woman, about 250 to 300 pounds and wore . Gladys Bentley - Wikidata [26], In 2019, The New York Times newspaper began a series called "Overlooked No More," in which the editorial staff aims to correct a perceived bias in reporting by republishing obituaries for historical minorities and women. Gladys Bentley - WorldCat Shortly after, Gladys was diagnosed with hepatitis, and her condition worsened very quickly. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. Death rumors debunked. She is buried beside her mother at Lincoln Memorial Park in Carson, California. When Bentley ran away from home, she was certainly disillusioned with her familybut she was also hiding a huge secret. Langston Hughes recorded his reaction to the beginning of Bentley's career success: For two or three amazing years, Miss Bentley sat, and played piano all night long with scarcely a break between the notes, sliding from one song to another, with a powerful and continuous underbeat of jungle rhythm. By the mid 1940's, she took her act to Los Angeles, California and recorded for the Excelsior Record label. Gladys Presley - IMDb When she got up on stage every night in her top hat and tails, she sang loud and proud about sissies and bulldaggers, and her lyrics often illustrated her lesbian affairs in very explicit terms. The rumored marriage had all the makings of an early 20th-century scandalBentley claimed that not only was it a same-sex civil ceremony, but that the union was between herself and a white woman. Name a Woman: Pioneering Drag King Gladys Bentley Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Performing in a signature white top hat, tuxedo and tails, Bentley sang raunchy songs laced with double-entendres that thrilled and scandalized her audiences. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. From an early age, Bentley defied gender normative behaviors and femininity. I think not only of the performative side but that Bentley was a working woman, says Reece, who described a letter in the collection which shows that Bentley reprimanded a club owner who failed to pay her. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. By 1934, just a year after her debut, Gladys Bentley had to give up on her Broadway baby dreams, and she slunk back to Ubangi Club with her white coat tails between her legs. Jim Weatherly Dead at 77 - People Elvis Presley's mother, Gladys Presley, died on August 14, 1958, of a heart attack. However, Floyd County Schools said in a statement Friday . She also appeared at the the Apollo Theater and the Cotton Club. Gladys Bentley Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net Worth As a performer, she was advertised by event promoters as a male impersonator, and she filled venues with loud, rowdy performances in which she would flirt with women in the audience. Langston Hughes praised Bentley as an amazing exhibition of musical energya large, dark, masculine lady, whose feet pounded the floor while her fingers pounded the keyboarda perfect piece of African sculpture, animated by her own rhythm., As her star rose, Bentley began playing larger Harlem venues, like the Cotton Club and the iconic gay speakeasy the Clam House. Date of Birth. Sorry! In shock and disbelief Elvis rushed to the hospital. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Some pearl-clutching patrons complained, and the citys response was swift and brutal. Yet the reality behind her death was far too simple, and far too tragic. But trouble started as soon as Gladys was born. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Note: Although some historians view Bentley as a trans-masculine figure, she used she/her pronouns throughout her life. Gladys Alberta Bentley (1907-1960) - Find a Grave Memorial According to Jim Wilson, author of the book Bulldaggers, Pansies, and Chocolate Babies: Performance, Race, and Sexuality in the Harlem Renaissance, Harlem was also a community that the police turned a blind eye to during the Prohibition Era. In truth, Gladys Bentley has been a mystery for decades. Gipson shortly after arriving on the West coast. Over the course of their acquaintance, Bentley came to realize Don was a normal man who was utterly devoted to her, and they eventually started a romantic relationship and even, according to Bentley, married. The duo insisted that Bentley left them high and dry at the rise of the club and wanted to pursue other interests that she could financially benefit from. She was frequently harassed for wearing men's clothing. This happened even at her star-studded Hollywood shows, which would have the likes of Mary Astor and Barbara Stanwyck watching from the audience. That one had to hurt. Gladys Knight Death Hoax Dismissed Since Singer Is 'Alive And Well'. Gladyspassed away on month day1963, at age 54 at death place, Kentucky. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Already a big girl, her parents and siblings saw this masculine turn as shamefully unladylike, while her classmates teased her at school. Here are bawdy facts about Gladys Bentley. After a long climb, Bentley had finally made it to the topbut with stardom came scandal. Once more, I ask: Did Gladys Bentley care? Rustin's sexuality was a cause for debate by others in the movement, but toward the end of his life, he began to openly fight for queer causes. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Elvis' family didn't come from riches or anything of the sort. Lila Gladys Young | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers Her songs revealed all her dirty little secrets. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 08/12/1907 . "[5] She believed that growing up feeling rejected shaped her behavior; she never wanted a man to touch her, hated her brothers, wore boys' clothes, and had a crush on one of her female teachers in elementary school. Gladys Bentley should be remembered for being a gender outlaw, says Wilson. The best revenge might be living well, but that doesn't mean we can always turn the other cheek. She's been a special interest of mine for quite some time, and in the 1920's and 30's she was especially prominent. Gladys Bentley knew how to live life to the fullest, and with her large, bodacious build and flashy sense of style, she had no problem getting women to fall into bed with her. Her success picked up again during World War II with the expansion of gay bars on the West Coast. So she did what many 16-year-olds only dream of: She ran away from home to go seek stardom in Harlem, New York, the epicentre of Black bohemian culture at the time. Bentley claimed that she and her white female lover went through a civil union in New Jersey. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Gladys Bentley (1907-1960) was a blues pianist, singer, performer, and drag king pioneer. Her mother had desperately wanted a boy, and when the nurses told her she had a little girl instead, the matriarch refused to even touch her baby. 5. 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. Gipson passed, but the spitfire performer didnt wait until he was cold in his grave to jump into bedwith yet another man. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. At the time of her death, she was 53 years old. Photograph of Gladys Bentley by an unidentified photographer, 1927-45. William Young died of cancer just before Christmas, 1962 . Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Cookie Settings, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Bulldaggers, Pansies, and Chocolate Babies: Performance, Race, and Sexuality in the Harlem Renaissance, Five Places Where You Can Still Find Gold in the United States, Scientists Taught Pet Parrots to Video Call Each Otherand the Birds Loved It, Balto's DNA Provides a New Look at the Intrepid Sled Dog, The Science of California's 'Super Bloom,' Visible From Space, What We're Still Learning About Rosalind Franklins Unheralded Brilliance. When Gladys Presley passed away on August 14, 1958, Elvis was only 23 years old. Roberts later denied that they had ever married. ", Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use). Her vocal range was wide, as can be heard in her recordings. Just play. And Bentley was just getting started. Within weeks of starting her gig at the Clam House, Bentley transformed the whole jointliterally. But its more complicated than all that. Try again later. 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.. When Gladys died in 1958, newspapers around the world gave her age as 42, when she was really 46. Her career continued after that point, though briefly. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Decades after his death, Baldwin's work is still celebrated, with his ruminations of life as a Black gay man still holding true for many today. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In fact, she became the most prominent mannish lesbian of the Harlem Renaissance. Why Elvis Presley had his mother Gladys' gravestone replaced He was very close to his mother, which made her death that much more heartbreaking. Bentleys fame was a product of being both a gifted singer and an adept provocateur. Gladys Bentley (1907-1960) was a blues pianist, singer, performer, and drag king pioneer. Millvina Dean - Death, Family & Facts - Biography She died at 97, also becoming. In the years prior to her death, she adamantly tried to recant her lesbianism and married a man several years her junior. musician. Although she was a talented singer and pianist, her lyricism and queer presentation truly made her stand out. Make sure that the file is a photo. The 1950s were even more conservative than the early part of the 20th century. Even more, she often sang about "sissies" and "bulldaggers"[10] and, through innuendo or more literally, about her female lovers, and she flirted with women in the audience. Lynda Baron: Open All Hours and Come Outside actress dies aged 82 When Bentley showed up for a given performance, shed soon find that officers had locked up her venues in an attempt to drive away her business. That year, Bentley took up with kitchen cook Charles Roberts, marrying him after a whirlwind courtship. Gladys Bentley, one of the most flamboyant blues entertainers of the 20th century, began performing in New York City as a singer and male impersonator.

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