Hazel Scott: The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist from Cafe Society to Hollywood to HUAC - Hardcover

Chilton, Karen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0472115677 ISBN 13: 9780472115679

Publisher: University of Michigan Press, 2008

Synopsis

The first biography of an important but overlooked African American pianist, singer, actor, and civil-rights advocate

In 1938, Café Society--New York City's first fully integrated nightclub--was all the rage, and Hazel Scott was its star. Still a teenager, she wowed audiences with her jazz renditions of classical masterpieces by Chopin, Bach, and Rachmaninoff. Scott was a child prodigy, auditioning at Juilliard when she was only eight years old, and playing Town Hall at fourteen. By the time Hollywood came calling, Scott had achieved such stature that she could successfully challenge the studios' deplorable treatment of black actors. During the 1940s and 50s, her sexy and vivacious presence stunned international audiences, while her marriage to the controversial black Congressman from Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., kept her constantly in the headlines.

In a career spanning over four decades, Hazel Scott became known not only for her accomplishments on stage and screen, but for her outspoken advocacy of civil rights. Her relentless crusade on behalf of African Americans, women, and artists made her the target of the House Un-American Activities Committee during the McCarthy Era, eventually forcing her to join the black expatriate community in Paris. By age twenty-five, Hazel Scott was an international star but, before reaching thirty-five, she considered herself a failure and, plagued by insecurity and depression, twice tried to take her own life. Here, Karen Chilton traces the fascinating arc of this brilliant and audacious American artist from stardom to ultimate obscurity.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"This book is really, really important. It comprises a lot of history--of culture, race, gender, and America. In many ways, Hazel's story is the story of the twentieth century."
-Murray Horwitz, NPR commentator and co-author of "Ain't Misbehavin'"

"Hazel Scott was an important figure in the later part of the Black renaissance onward. Even in an era where there was limited mainstream recognition of Black Stars. Hazel Scott's talent stood out and she is still fondly remembered by a large segment of the community. I am pleased to see her legend honored."
-Melvin Van Peebles, Filmmaker/Director

"Karen Chilton has deftly woven three narrative threads-Adam Clayton Powell,Jr., Harlem, and Hazel Scott-into a marvelous tapestry of black life, particularly from the Depression to the Civil Rights era. Of course, Hazel Scott's magnificent career is the brightest thread, and Chilton handles it with the same finesse and brilliance as her subject brought to the piano."
-Herb Boyd, author of Baldwin's Harlem: A Biography of James Baldwin

"A wonderful book about an extraordinary woman: Hazel Scott was a glamorous, gifted musician and fierce freedom fighter. Thank you Karen Chilton for reintroducing her. May she never be forgotten."
-Farah Griffin, Institute for Research in African-American Studies, Columbia University

About the Author:

Karen Chilton is a New York-based writer and actor, and the coauthor of I Wish You Love, the jazz memoir of legendary vocalist Gloria Lynne.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Michigan Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0472115677
• ISBN 13: 9780472115679
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 312